Hsieh Kun-da of boy band Energy had reportedly admitted to evading military service in 2010 by using a forged medical report claiming he had high blood pressure. Photo: Hsieh Kun-da/Instagram
Singer-actor Hsieh Kun-da, who was among the Taiwanese celebrities suspected of evading military service, has been detained on his return to Taiwan.
The 43-year-old member of boy band Energy was on the latest list of men sought by the authorities for the suspected offence on Oct 21.
Hsieh had just flown to Canada to begin 10 days of filming for variety show Mr Player (2014 to present) when the police went to his residence on the morning of Oct 21. Only his wife, Taiwanese actress Alice Ko, was at home.
Upon learning the news, Hsieh contacted the Taiwanese police to arrange for an early return.
He reached Taiwan at about 6.30am on Oct 22 and was detained by the police, who were waiting at Taoyuan International Airport.
Taiwanese media said that Hsieh had admitted to evading military service in 2010 by using a forged medical report claiming he had high blood pressure. He was believed to have paid between NT$200,000 and NT$300,000 to a syndicate headed by a man named Chen Chih-ming.
Hsieh was released on bail of NT$500,000 (RM68,831.44) on Oct 22, after he was questioned by the police.
Fellow Energy member Toro, who also travelled to Canada for the Mr Player recording session, returned to Taiwan with Hsieh.
Toro, 44, told media at the airport that he had enlisted and completed his alternative service.
Other celebrities who were detained in the round-up on Oct 21 were actors Hsiu Chieh-kai and Chen Bo-lin, singer-actor Chang Shu-wei from Energy and singer Liao Yun-chieh of boy band Lollipop.
They were released on bail on Oct 21 after they were questioned by the police.
Chen, 42, told the media after his release that he would cooperate with the investigations.
“I’m very grateful to the prosecutor for giving me the opportunity today to confront the reckless and foolish choices I made in my youth,” he said.
Hsiu, 42, Chang, 44, and Liao, 39, took to social media to apologise after their release on Oct 21.
Actor Darren Wang was arrested in February for allegedly dodging Taiwan’s mandatory military service.
A second round of detentions took place in May, with William Liao of Lollipop, Nine Chen of boy band W0LF(S), Jushe Lee of defunct boy band Choc7 and actor Daniel Chen among those summoned. – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
