#METOO/High Prosecutors Office declines to pursue rape charges against Aaron Yan

Taipei, Dec. 8 (CNA) The Taiwan High Prosecutors Office said Thursday it will not indict actor and singer Aaron Yan (炎亞綸) on charges of forced sexual intercourse, citing insufficient evidence.

In a statement, the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office said there were no grounds to reconsider indicting Yan as an investigation by the Shilin District Prosecutors Office had been thorough.

Yan's accuser, internet personality Raku (耀樂), had applied for a reconsideration of the Shilin District Prosecutors Office's Nov. 8 decision not to pursue an indictment against Yan for rape.

Yan still faces trial for filming and leaking intimate videos of himself and Raku after being indicted under the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act on Nov. 8.

The Shilin District Court confirmed earlier this week that it would hear the case on Dec. 21.

According to the court, the trial will be closed to the public due to the accuser's age.

Yan could face six months to five years in prison and a fine of up to NT$500,000 (US$15,500) for the offense of creating electronic records of sexual intercourse with a youth, prosecutors said in an earlier indictment.

Yan could also face a separate penalty of six months to five years in prison and a fine of up to NT$3 million for intentionally possessing explicit material involving a youth, prosecutors added.

Raku first accused Yan of raping him as well as leaking intimate videos filmed without his consent in a Facebook post in June.

In the post, Raku said the incidents occurred after he entered a relationship with Yan in 2017. At the time, Raku was 16, while Yan was in his early 30s.

On Nov. 8, the Shilin District Prosecutors Office charged Yan with violations of the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act.