An international escort operation headed by Tai Chun-yi (戴君儀), in 2005 attempted to forcibly recruit Taiwanese model and actress Lin Chi-ling (林志玲) in the US, but Lin came out of the episode with her clean image intact, local media reported yesterday.
Via a US entertainment agency, Tai allegedly invited Lin to appear as a special guest at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, but when Lin arrived, she was told that the event was a dinner hosted by wealthy overseas Chinese businessmen, the Taipei-based Chinese-language Want Weekly report said.
Tai offered Lin US$30,000 to appear at the dinner and promised more money if she agreed to provide “other services” to her wealthy clients, the report said.
Photo: Hu Shuan-hsiang, Taipei Times
At dinner appointments arranged by Tai, it is alleged that invited female companions, mostly Taiwanese models and starlets, were escorts who could be taken upstairs by the businessmen after the dinner.
Lin refused, which put her in real danger, as members of a Chinese-American triad known as the “Wah Ching” threatened Lin with violence if she did not comply, the report said.
Lin sought help from two female friends: Her business manager, Chiu Li-kuang and Chen Lan (陳嵐), who were in Las Vegas at the time, the report said.
Chiu and Chen allegedly used their connections in the entertainment circles of Taiwan, China, and the US to pressure Tai to allow Lin to leave, the report said.
Finally, Chiu contacted a member of Taiwan’s Bamboo Union Gang known as “Brother Shun,” who led a posse of about 20 men, all carrying handguns, to negotiate with the escort ring operators and the Wah Ching, and Lin was let go, the report said.
Tai was charged last month with procuring females for the sex trade and human trafficking.
Lin had repeatedly denied she had any involvement with Tai, after Lin’s name was associated with the escort ring in media reports.
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