Hong Kong singer William So (蘇永康) yesterday emphasized that there was no connection between his early release from the Taipei Drug Abstention and Treatment Center (台北煙毒勒戒所) and Vice President Annette Lu's (呂秀蓮) recent visit to the facility.
"If she hadn't come, I would still be leaving," So said in a press conference yesterday.
According to an evaluation prepared by the center's psychiatric staff, So has quit using and doesn't intend to take drugs again.
On that basis, the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office decided to release So from the drug rehabilitation program on Monday.
So had completed 10 days of a one-month rehabilitation program. Since the decision to release him early was made right after the vice president's visit to the center last Saturday, they two events were thought by some to be linked.
"All decisions in this case have been legal. So was a patient -- not a criminal. Once there was evidence showing that he was not addicted to drugs, permission to leave was granted." said Lo Chia-hsi (羅嘉希), So's lawyer.
"I have received no special treatment. The only difference in my case was that I asked not to march outside in the morning so as to avoid the Hong Kong paparazzi." So said.
"Saturday Karaoke is a monthly event at the center and it was a coincidence that Vice President Lu came. Also, it was not really a contest, as there was no prize." noted So.
So was arrested for having Ecstasy tablets at a dance club on Nanking East Road, along with an entourage of 11 friends and colleagues on June 8. He was sent to the drug center in Tucheng after a hearing on Aug. 2.
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