Over 300 victims found in Dr. Shine hidden-camera case; 9 indicted

New Taipei, Aug. 28 (CNA) More than 300 people, including four minors, were secretly filmed at eight branches of the Dr. Shine cosmetic clinic chain, New Taipei prosecutors said Friday as they indicted nine people in connection with the case.

Prosecutors are seeking prison terms of at least 16 years for Chen Chih-min (陳志敏), the group's operations manager, and 14 years for Tang Yung-chieh (唐詠傑), its information technology chief. Both men were detained and held incommunicado during the investigation.

The investigation found that concealed cameras disguised as smoke detectors or infrared sensor lights were installed in consultation rooms, treatment rooms, laser rooms and recovery rooms at eight branches in Taipei and New Taipei between 2020 and March 2026.

The cameras recorded customers while they were changing clothes or exposing their breasts or lower bodies, prosecutors said. A surveillance equipment company was also hired to install concealed cameras at five of the branches.

After a separate hidden-camera case involving Airlee aesthetic clinics came to light in May, Dr. Shine personnel allegedly feared their own surveillance practices would be discovered.

Tang then created a LINE group to coordinate the removal of the concealed cameras and directed four employees to visit branches between May 5 and 8 to destroy evidence, prosecutors said.

The case came to light after a customer spotted a concealed camera at the chain's Banqiao Zhongshan branch on May 5 and reported it to police. Investigators subsequently seized two surveillance recording units.

Prosecutors said their investigation has so far identified more than 300 victims across the eight branches, including four minors, and that the number could rise as the investigation continues.

They accused Chen and Tang of systematically and indiscriminately recording customers' intimate images, seriously violating their privacy and bodily autonomy.

After the case was exposed, the two allegedly focused on removing cameras and destroying evidence rather than informing or apologizing to customers, prosecutors said.

Chen and Tang have continued to deny the allegations and shift responsibility, prosecutors said. They were indicted under laws covering the unauthorized recording of sexual images of minors, illegal collection of personal data and unauthorized recording of sexual images.

Two brothers who supplied the surveillance equipment and five clinic employees were also indicted for helping commit the offenses or destroying evidence.

Prosecutors have also placed Dr. Shine founder Wang Chao-hui (王朝輝), who left Taiwan after the case came to light, on a wanted list and urged him to return to Taiwan and cooperate with the investigation.