Jaycee Chan (房祖名), the son of kung fu movie star Jackie Chan (成龍), is scheduled to stand trial on Friday on a drugs charge, media reported yesterday, the latest in a series of minor celebrities accused of narcotics offences.
The microblog post from the semi-official newspaper Legal Evening News said the younger Chan, a 32-year-old actor and singer, would be tried in Eastern District Court in Beijing in a case that would be closely watched by Chinese.
Jaycee Chan was arrested with Taiwanese actor Kai Ko (柯震東) on Aug. 18 last year.
He was formally charged last month with “the crime of sheltering others to take drugs” after testing positive for marijuana, with police saying they found 100g of the drug at his home.
Calls to the Eastern District Court went unanswered.
Jaycee Chan is among a string of other mostly “B-list” celebrities detained last year by Chinese authorities on drug-related charges that have been publicized widely in both state and social media. They have included movie and television stars, film directors and a prominent screenwriter.
Their detentions have come amid a campaign by China’s Ministry of Public Security to get tough on drugs, gambling and prostitution.
It is highly likely that Jaycee Chan is set to be found guilty as convictions are nearly certain in Chinese courts, which are controlled by the ruling Chinese Communist Party.
Illegal drugs, especially synthetic substances, such as methamphetamine, ketamine and ecstasy, have grown in popularity in China in tandem with the rise of a new urban class with greater disposable income.
Last month, state media reported that Jackie Chan felt ashamed of his son’s drug abuse and hopes that one day he would speak out about the dangers of taking drugs.
The older Chan had served as a goodwill spokesman for the China National Anti-Drug Committee in 2009, promoting anti-drug education.
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