Taiwanese comedian-host Nono was found guilty of one charge of attempted rape. Photo: Nono/Facebook
Taiwanese comedian-host Nono has been found guilty on May 13 of one charge of attempted rape and sentenced to 2½ years in jail.
The 54-year-old, who was facing a total of seven charges, was found not guilty of the other six charges.
Nono, whose real name is Chen Hsuan-yu, was one of the male celebrities embroiled in Taiwan’s MeToo movement in June 2023.
His career has been put on hold after he was then accused of sexual harassment by at least 20 women.
He was indicted in May 2024 with seven charges – three charges of rape, two charges of attempted rape and two charges of indecent assault involving a total of six victims.
The attemped rape took place in February 2011. The prosecution said Chen used his status as a senior in the entertainment industry to send the victim home late at night after recording a TV show. He parked the car at a riverside park and attempted to rape her.
The court’s judgment said the victim did not dare to speak out after the incident due to the fear of being criticised by the public and jeopardising her job in the entertainment industry. She eventually opened up in June 2023 after other women came forward to recount similar experiences.
The judgment said the court accepted the victim’s account, as she had told her friends and family what had happened after the incident. Her friends and family added that her emotional state has been deeply affected after the incident.
The court sentenced Chen according to the law, as he did not show remorse and claimed he did not know the victim. The artiste also did not apologise and did not seek reconciliation with the victim.
Regarding the other six charges, the court said most of the allegations were made by the victims without strong corroborative evidence. The court also found contradictions in some of the plaintiffs’ testimonies.
Chen and the prosecution can still appeal the sentence.
Taiwanese influencer Anissa, who detailed some allegations made by the women in June 2023, said on Facebook on May 13 that she and the victims cannot accept Chen’s light sentence. She said they will hold discussions with lawyers and will urge the prosecution to appeal the verdict.
Chen rose to fame after co-hosting variety shows such as Jacky Go Go Go (2000 to 2008) with Taiwanese TV host Jacky Wu.
Chen has been married to Taiwanese singer Angel Chu, 39, since 2013 and they have an 11-year-old daughter. – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
