TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Supreme Court delivered a final blow Thursday (June 12) to entertainer Mickey Huang (黃子佼), rejecting his appeal against an 8-month prison sentence for possessing thousands of illicit images of minors. The court's decision closes a high-profile case that rocked Taiwan's entertainment industry after Huang was convicted of violating the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act (兒童及少年性剝削防制條例). Huang possessed 2,259 sexual images of minors, a collection that prosecutors described as extensive and deeply troubling.
Huang negotiated private settlements with 21 victims before facing court-imposed travel restrictions beginning May 2, confining him to Taiwan for eight months. The Supreme Court upheld these movement limitations, rejecting Huang's challenge to the lower court's restrictions. Police discovered the damning evidence during a home search triggered by sexual assault allegations against a minor, uncovering a hard drive filled with illegal imagery. Prosecutors initially offered Huang deferred prosecution, a decision that would later prove controversial.
The Taiwan High Prosecutors Office (台灣高等檢察署), Taiwan's appellate prosecution authority, reversed course and ordered a comprehensive reinvestigation that led to Huang's formal indictment for possessing sexual images of 47 minors. Court proceedings revealed Huang purchased 2,259 illicit images depicting 35 different minors in exploitative situations. Huang offered stress relief as his disturbing justification for acquiring the illegal material. The High Court deemed the evidence overwhelming, particularly given Huang's own admission of guilt.
Prosecutors pursued additional charges under the Personal Data Protection Act (個人資料保護法), which carries more severe penalties than simple possession of child sexual exploitation material. The court imposed NT$500,000 (around US$16,890) in additional bail and extended travel restrictions, citing Huang's celebrity status, substantial financial resources, and extensive international travel history. The enhanced security measures raised Huang's total bail to NT$850,000 (around US$28,710), reflecting judicial concerns about flight risk. The Supreme Court's rejection of Huang's final appeal sealed his legal fate permanently. ◼