Prosecutors appeal ex-TV host's suspended sentence for child pornography

Taipei, Dec. 24 (CNA) The Taiwan High Prosecutors Office on Wednesday appealed the sentence handed down last month to former television personality Mickey Huang (黃子佼) for purchasing child sexual abuse material.

Huang, a well-known personality on Taiwanese television screens for three decades until allegations of sexual offenses surfaced in 2023, was given a one-year, six-month prison term that could be suspended for four years.

Prosecutors argued that Huang's actions seriously harmed the physical and mental development of children and teenagers, and therefore he should not receive a suspended sentence.

Granting a suspended sentence on the grounds that he had reached settlements with the victims and paid compensation was an incorrect application of the law, they said.

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 at the time, violating the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act and the Personal Data Protection Act.

The court sentenced Huang under the harsher penalty provisions of the latter act.

However, considering Huang had no previous criminal record and reached settlements with the victims, the court granted him a suspended sentence and required him to perform 180 hours of community service and attend three legal education sessions.