The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office yesterday announced their findings in the sex VCD blackmail scandal surrounding TV personality Peng Chia-chia (澎恰恰) and actress Lu Ching (盧靚).
Peng was found to have been the victim of a scam perpetrated by Lu and four other associates, who have been charged, but no sentence has yet been demanded, according to a Chinese-language evening paper.
Lu, along with her uncle Lu Chao-chin (盧照琴), a gangster-turned-businessman who used to top the list of Taiwan's most wanted criminals, and his confidant, Cheng Ruei-hsiang (鄭瑞祥), have been charged with demanding money with menaces. Singer Bingo Kuo (郭桂彬), who was also involved in the case, has been charged with fraud, and Li En-kuo (李恩國), a financier with criminal ties, has been charged with embezzlement.
The prosecutor's office judged that Wu Chia-kang (吳家康), who is also linked to criminal organizations and received payment for serving as a "mediator" in arranging the payment by Peng, should not be charged. Lu's mother, who has also been implicated in the scandal, has not been charged either, due to insufficient evidence against her.
Peng is believed to have paid out a total of NT$41.7 million (US$1.24 million) to the various parties to suppress a video that Lu claimed to have secretly made to protect herself from further sexual advances by Peng in July and April 2003. The threat to release the VCD -- which shows him masturbating in a room with Lu -- was made in August last year.
On hearing that he was being charged, Kuo said he had only intended to help Peng settle the matter. He hinted that he could reveal more information about the case if he chose. Lu has said she will not respond until she receives the official charge documents. Peng and his wife have been unavailable for comment since the announcement was made.
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