Angel Tong plans to appeal verdict in beauty-drug case

The Taipei District Court yesterday sentenced beauty-products retailer Angel Tong (唐安琪) to three months in prison with a two-year suspension for violating the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law (藥事法).

In addition, the court fined Tong NT$50,000 for selling illegal drugs and violating the Code of Cosmetic Hygiene Management (化妝品衛生管理條例).

Tong famous for promoting "body shaping." She runs Angel Face Beauty Creations Ltd in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

At yesterday's trial, Taipei District Court Judge Wang Han-ching (汪漢卿) ruled that Tong broke the law by selling Queen Sophir Health Tea (仙子素健康茶), which contains Sennosides (蕃瀉葉), a kind of illegal drug.

But she was found innocent of illegally importing medical devices.

"Tong is disappointed by the unfair judgement and wants to appeal," said Susan Song (宋映辰), Tong's assistant.

Tong in Hong Kong yesterday and Song represented her in Tong's place.

"We've got evidence showing that the Sennosides in the product we sold is not a laxative that falls under the regulation of the Department of Health. We will appeal," Song said.

A photocopy of a letter issued by the health department says the drug would be illegal if taken in certain amounts. Taking less than 12mg of Sennosides a day isn't considered illegal under Article 22 of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law.

According to a press release issued by Tong, a consumer using Queen Sophir Health Tea would only consume 7.36mg of Sennosides daily.

Tong to appeal using the health department letter. According to the criminal code, she must file an appeal within 10 days.