22 years jail for sexual assualt involving Taiwanese starlets and models

22 years jail for sexual assualt involving Taiwanese starlets and models
    POSTED: 03 Sep 2013 6:59 PM
 
One of Taiwan’s biggest sex scandals in recent years involving a rich playboy and several victims including models and starlets, has closed with a 22 year jail term  for assaulting nine women and filming the acts

Taipei: Socialite Justin Lee, the son of former Yuanta CEO Lee Yueh-tsang, has received a jail sentence of some 22 years for sexually assaulting nine women and filming the acts.

A host of Taiwanese starlets and models had been named among Lee's victims.

According to Taiwan media, Lee who's also known as Li Zongrui, had 27.5GB files of sex videos and nude pictures found by police in his apartment.

A total of 93 videos (883mins) and 176 photos were apparently found on the hard-drive of Lee's computer and a few has since been leaked online.

The graphic images show Lee having sex with different women, some of whom appear dazed or struggling with him.

Lee who faced 45 counts of rape, aggravated rape, and violation of privacy, turned himself in last month after hiding from authorities.

The court chided Lee, saying "Lee should have collaborated with the authorities to clarify the case".

The Taipei district court went on to sentence Lee to jail for 18 years and six months for nine counts of assault.

He was sentenced to another three years and ten months for making sex videos without the women's consent and invading their privacy.

In addition, Lee will also have to pay a total of NT$14.25 million (S$610,200) in damages to 12 of his victims.

As previous hearings of the case were closed to the public, Taiwan media turned up in force for the sentencing of Lee, who appeared relieved when his sentence was read out.

The court said there was not enough evidence to convict Lee of aggravated sexual assault by drugging some victims, as prosecutors had requested.

The 28-year-old was originally accused of drugging, raping as well as secretly filming as many as 30 women, among them models and actresses – crimes which carry a combined maximum penalty of 30 years jail - in one of Taiwan’s biggest sex scandals in recent years.

Lee who plans to appeal the sentencing has claimed that all the women in the videos had agreed to the recordings. He has also denied drugging them.

In July 2011, two sisters filed a complaint against Lee for drug rape and recording sexual activity without consent.

Amidst a year-long police investigation, the scandal took another turn when Next Magazine claimed in August last year,that Taiwanese celebrities Maggie Wu, Terri Kwan, Bianca Bai, and Ruru Lin were featured in the videos.

- CNA/ha/sf

- wong chee tat :)