Taipei – The Taipei district court handed television host Jacky Wu
a suspended 22-month sentence for a scam on Friday, after he agreed
to a plea bargain with prosecutors, said China Times.
The 51-year-old was also fined NT$3 million. Wu, the owner of a
LED company, had been indicted for signing a
make-believe contract with a friend and cashing in promissory notes
paid for non-existent products.
He had faced up to 10 years in jail.
According to the newspaper, the prosecutors had been impressed by
his performance at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, where he moved
and amused the audience with a medley of 13 Hokkien numbers. He was
such a hit that his medley was the highest-rated part of the
night.
His lawyer told China Times that the prosecutors played a video of
his performance in court, saying he “should stay in the
entertainment business to serve the public” and offering him a plea
bargain.
The lawyer said: “I must emphasise that in the two years we fought
this lawsuit, we never pleaded guilty.” He said they had not
expected to be offered a plea bargain.
On Friday, Wu swore by his parents that he had done nothing against
his conscience. In a press statement, he said he had been
implicated in the case by a “childhood friend”. He added: “I can
choose to be cautious but I can’t choose my childhood. Some
frustration you have to swallow yourself. Heaven knows, Earth
knows, you know, I know.”
http://stcommunities.straitstimes.com/tv/2013/12/28/jacky-wu-saved-hokkien-medley-gets-suspended-jail-sentence