Taiwanese TV producer Angie Chai (柴智屏) on Monday denied bribery allegations against her in China, saying she is only needed as a witness in an investigation.
Chai told a news conference in Taipei that the Jilin provincial prosecutors’ office has told one of her colleagues in Beijing that it has informed the Ministry of Justice in Taipei that she is needed as a witness in an investigation.
She denied online rumors of bribery and said the allegations have severely damaged her reputation.
The rumors surfaced in China last week, saying that prosecutors in Jilin Province would bar Chai and an executive from her company from leaving the country should they enter China. The rumors were later confirmed by the Ministry of Justice in Taipei.
There has been speculation in the media that Chai is wanted for an offense relating to a bribery scandal involving China Central Television (CCTV), the main state broadcaster in China.
Chai said she had helped a Chinese friend purchase Taiwanese TV shows to be shown in China.
This friend is now under investigation in China, which could be the reason why her name was mentioned, Chai said.
The producer said she has contacted the ministry for more information regarding her case, but has not received any response other than “no comment.”
Chai said she was willing to cooperate with Chinese authorities, but added that she “cannot stay in China for an entire three months to help with an investigation” as it could affect her work.
She said she has asked the Chinese authorities if she could return to Taiwan after giving her side of the story, but received no answer.
Chai, 52, is best known for her 2001 hit show Meteor Garden (流星花園), and for reviving singer Jolin Tsai’s (蔡依林) career after Tsai had a contract dispute with a record company in 2002.
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