#METOO/TV personality Nono indicted on rape, forced indecency charges

Taipei, Aug. 5 (CNA) The Shilin District Prosecutors Office on Tuesday indicted Taiwanese television personality Nono on charges of rape and forced indecency against two women.

In a news statement, the office said that the entertainer, whose real name is Chen Hsuan-yu (陳宣裕), visited a spa in Taipei and hired a female masseuse sometime between 2011 and 2013.

According to prosecutors, during the massage, he allegedly suddenly stood, and, using his advantage in height and size, held down the woman and raped her.

In another case, prosecutors said Chen contacted a woman in 2011 after she uploaded a video of herself appearing on a television program and arranged to meet her.

That December, Chen allegedly picked her up in his car. After she got into the front passenger seat, he used his physical advantage to pin her down, forcibly kissed her, and groped her breasts, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors recommended a heavy sentence for Chen, arguing that he used his celebrity status to befriend his victims for personal gratification, inflicted severe physical and psychological harm, and showed no remorse by denying the allegations.

The cases were part of three cases initially not prosecuted by the Taipei District Prosecutors Office. Two of the cases' victims applied for reconsideration to the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office.

The cases were then transferred to the Shilin District Prosecutors Office for jurisdiction considerations, and were again not prosecuted by the Shilin office.

After the victims applied for reconsideration for the second time, the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office remanded the cases and ordered the Shilin office to further their investigations.

Chen has denied both allegations.

In a separate trial in May 2025, Chen was sentenced to two years and six months in prison by the Shilin District Court for attempted rape. The ruling has been appealed by Chen and prosecutors, and is now being heard by the Taiwan High Court.