Ex-TV host's suspended sentence upheld in final ruling

Taipei, May 7 (CNA) The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected appeals by prosecutors and television personality Mickey Huang (黃子佼), making final his four-year suspended sentence for purchasing sexually explicit material involving minors.

The court said the evidence in the case supported Huang's conviction and that the suspension of the sentence was appropriate.

It said prosecutors' appeal against the suspended sentence and Huang's appeal against the conviction did not meet the grounds for a final appeal, which are limited to issues involving the application of law.

Huang was found guilty by the Taiwan High Court on Nov. 25 of purchasing 2,341 sexually explicit videos and images involving 37 minors aged 10 to 17, in violation of the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act and the Personal Data Protection Act.

The High Court sentenced Huang under the harsher penalty provisions of the Personal Data Protection Act.

He was sentenced to one year and six months in prison, suspended for four years. He was also ordered to perform 180 hours of community service and attend three legal education sessions.

The High Court said at the time that the suspended sentence was granted because Huang had no previous criminal record and had reached settlements with the victims.