#METOO/Clinic chain chief indicted for attempted rape amid privacy fight

Taipei, June 24 (CNA) Chang Ju-shan (常如山), chairman of an aesthetic clinic chain that was already under scrutiny for alleged privacy violations, was indicted Wednesday on charges of attempted rape and violating a protection order.

Taipei prosecutors said there was ample evidence behind the attempted rape charge, including testimony from the complainant, suspect and witnesses, surveillance footage, communications records, DNA forensic reports and medical documents.

According to the indictment, a female acquaintance accused Chang of attempting to rape her. After he was summoned for questioning on Feb. 5, a protection order was issued against him.

Chang, however, continued to harass the woman, violating the protection order, prosecutors said.

His actions caused lasting trauma to the victim, prosecutors said, and they argued that his disregard for the court-issued order warranted a heavier sentence.

Chang has been detained incommunicado since May 8 over his alleged involvement in privacy violations at Airlee Group Co., Ltd., his cosmetic clinic chain.

● 3 formally detained for alleged cosmetic surgery privacy violations

The investigation into the chain was prompted by a social media post from a customer who believed that what appeared to be a smoke detector mounted on the ceiling of a treatment room at the chain's Banqiao branch was actually a camera.

Prosecutors are currently attempting to recover surveillance footage that had been deleted.

Several other branches of the clinic chain have since been fined or ordered by local governments to suspend operations over violations that included unauthorized charges and the alleged filming of patients without authorization.

The case has also prompted investigations into several other aesthetic clinic chains over similar allegations.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault or harassment, call Taiwan's 24-hour protection hotline at 113.