Actor Chin Yang (金陽), reportedly the boyfriend of actress Kuo Shu-yao (郭書瑤), was arrested in Taipei on Wednesday for driving under the influence of marijuana and has been charged with violating the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act (毒品危害防制條例).
Police said Chin was initially pulled over for driving erratically, but after noticing a peculiar odor inside his vehicle, they executed a search and found a bag containing cannabis.
A police officer quoted Chin as saying that he had lived abroad for many years and had no idea that smoking marijuana is a criminal offense in Taiwan.
Photo: Pan Shao-tang, Taipei Times
During questioning by the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office, Chin said he purchased the cannabis from a foreigner who was selling the drug as they were entertaining and drinking with friends at a Taipei nightclub.
He was released under his own recognizance by prosecutors on Wednesday afternoon, under condition of restricted movement; he is not allowed to leave the nation.
It was the second celebrity- related cannabis bust to have taken place in the past few days.
Earlier this week, news anchor Lulu Hsia (夏嘉璐) became embroiled in a controversy when her younger brother, Hsia Chia-en (夏加恩), was arrested for allegedly mailing a package containing 25g of cannabis from Australia to Taiwan.
Police initially thought the news anchor was personally involved, because her brother had written “Lulu Hsia” as the recipient of the package.
Taipei Customs officers intercepted the package after sniffer dogs alerted them to the presence of drugs during a routine check, according to reports from local media.
Police officers with search warrants entered Hsia Chia-en’s New Taipei City residence on Tuesday, where they found 8g of cannabis, grinding tools, pipes and various devices for smoking marijuana.
Charged with illegal possession of drugs, Hsia was taken for questioning to the Shilin District Prosecutors’ Office and was released after posting bail of NT$40,000 (US$1,217) on Tuesday afternoon.
He also told police that he did not know possession and consumption of marijuana is illegal in Taiwan.
Marijuana is classified as a “Category Two” narcotic drug, along with mescaline, coca leaf, opium and amphetamines, and offenders can be sentenced to a prison term ranging from seven years to life, and subjected to a fine of up to NT$10 million.
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