Japan fines Taiwanese entertainer 500,000 yen for national treasure vandalism

Taipei, Sept. 4 (CNA) Japan's Nara Summary Court on Wednesday fined a Taiwanese entertainer 500,000 yen (US$3,200) for vandalizing the Buddha's Footprint Stone during a visit to Yakushiji Temple in Nara Prefecture in April, according to Japanese national broadcaster NHK on Thursday.

NHK reported that a 39-year-old Taiwanese event emcee who was arrested on suspicion of violating Japan's Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties has been released from police custody after paying a 500,000-yen fine following a summary indictment.

A summary indictment in Japan's legal system is a simplified criminal procedure for handling minor offenses through written documents rather than a court trial.

The female emcee was arrested by Japanese police on Aug. 22 on suspicion that she had dripped oil onto a national treasure located in the World Heritage-listed Yakushiji Temple in April.

According to the NHK report, the Taiwanese woman told investigators she deeply regretted her conduct, explaining that she has the habit of sprinkling oil onto items that move her emotionally.

Japan's Kyodo News also reported Thursday that the Nara District Public Prosecutors Office confirmed that a 39-year-old Taiwanese woman received a summary indictment and was fined 500,000 yen on Wednesday for staining the temple's hallowed Buddha's Footprint Stone with oil.

Japanese media outlets identified the Taiwanese entertainer as Tsai Yi-chen (蔡宜臻). She is most commonly known by her old stage name Wu-hsiung (五熊).

Tsai addressed her involvement in the case on Thursday, posting her first public comments about the incident on Facebook in Chinese and Japanese. She also confirmed that the investigation has concluded and she has been released.

Tsai said that her behavior was a result of ignorance and apologized to Japan and Yakushiji Temple, adding that there is no excuse for her lack of awareness of the customs and laws of other countries.

She then apologized to the Taiwanese public for setting a bad example and promised not to repeat her mistakes.