Taiwan: Anger grows as TV host Mickey Huang’s child porn charge emerges

Taiwan: Anger grows as TV host Mickey Huang's child porn charge emerges
Mickey Huang at an awards ceremony in TaiwanGetty Images

After one of Taiwan’s best TV presenters left with a great, there are calls to raise the penalties for the custody of child sexuality in Taiwan.

After seven videos featuring minors were discovered on his portable hard drive, Mickey Huang Tzu-chiao was ordered to pay a fine of 1.2 million NTD ($ 37, 000, £30, 000 ) and issue an apology letter.

But if he acts for two years, he may avoid being charged.

The broadcaster has apologised, saying” I did not make the mistake again”.

But politicians have questioned the lawyer’s selection, given the gravity of the fees.

The sanctions are” really insignificant for a number with such cultural reputation and financial tools,” the Taipei-based Modern Women’s Foundation stated in a Facebook post. Additionally, a group of prominent Japanese citizens wrote an open letter to the government to demand tougher penalties for crimes involving child abuse and sex abuse.

The world treats these events as news events, the society has said. There is criticism, but it is true that everyone forgets about it after a while because the black sky vanish. We hope to use our apprehension to pressure the Parliamentary Yuan to change the law and create a safer environment for Taiwan’s kids.

Anyone who sexually impersonates a slight without providing any justification in Taiwan could spend up to a year in jail and be fined between 30 000 and 300,000 NTD, as per Japanese laws.

In contrast, the US punishes hands by away to 10 years in prison. However, in Japan, the sentence is up to one year in prison or fines of up to a maximum of 1 million yen ($ 6, 600, £5, 200 ).

Huang, 52, is a comfortable experience in Taiwan. He made his television debut in the late 1980s, and he has since grown to be one of the island’s major hosts, winning numerous prizes and hosting some of the country’s most well-known programs.

He was identified by officials last year after two women accused him of having sex with him during a storm of MeToo allegations that shook Taiwan. In a split affair a decade ago, Huang was accused of forcing another person to have intercourse with him again in 2013, and violently kissing a 17-year-old, and coercing her into taking naked pictures in a separate event.

He apologised for both instances, which have been investigated by authorities. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office stated last week that the allegations were being dropped because there was no “objective information” or settlements between Huang and the ladies.

When authorities searched his home while investigating the children’s claims, they found the seven video of juveniles, which Huang admitted to downloading in 2023.

Singers and activists hold placards while taking a group photo at a concert to support #MeToo movement in Taipei, Taiwan July 22, 2023

Reuters

Huang claimed in a Facebook post on Friday that he has never stopped searching for answers since being accused of physical misconduct.” It is my responsibility and the direction that I will take me to build a new home, a good soul, and stand up for my home… Please accept my resolve to resurrect my career. But the responses have been met with incredulity.

” You’ve been a public figure and doing this for such a long time, it’s not until now that you say you wo n’t do it again. People who have a consciousness would have stopped long ago, according to one of the best comments under Huang’s article.

” I do n’t know if these penalties will give him any lessons and be effective”, says Tu Ying- Chiu, chief executive officer of Taipei’s Women’s Rescue Foundation.

She contends that there is no effort to stop such events from occurring once, such as requiring professional assistance or counseling.

President of Taiwan’s New Power Party, Claire Wang Wan-yu, is optimistic that the situation will” spear off debate about how to avoid the same things from happening again and how to help the victims.”

Premier Chen Chien-jen said on Monday that the state has “absolute zero compassion” for the sexual abuse of children, prompting claims from the leading officials.

But this is n’t enough, the campaigners argue.

” As long as there are needs, there will be offer. If you do n’t cut the demand there might always be these videos”, says Ms Tu, of Taipei’s Women’s Rescue Foundation. She points out that it’s difficult to stop people from becoming victims of the lack of laws in Taiwan that govern the ownership of pornographic films.

Ms Wang, however, argues that one of the items victims fear most is that the video will continue to exist on the internet, even if they report it to authorities.

” These sites may recreate easily”, she says. To ensure that the videos will be entirely removed, and a system to help the victims, including children, interact with their worry,” we need professionals whose information is up to date with the modern age.”

After admitting to kissing the 17-year-old, Huang, who was admitted to a hospital with self-inflicted injuries, is still under investigation for another case involving drug accusations. He admitted to using drugs with other Taiwanese celebrities on a live stream last year after making the revelations. The BBC has reached out to Huang’s lawyer for comments.

If you, or someone you know, have been affected by mental health issues, the following resources may help:

In the UK: BBC Action Line, Elsewhere in the world: Befrienders International

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