Pubdate: Sat, 10 Jan 2015
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2015 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248
Author: Sean Silbert, Silbert is a special correspondent

CHINA SENTENCES JACKIE CHAN'S SON

BEIJING - The son of action comedy star Jackie Chan pleaded guilty 
Friday to providing a venue for drug users, one of thousands caught 
up in a widespread crackdown on illegal drugs in the capital.

Jaycee Chan was sentenced in a courtroom in the Chinese capital to 
six months in prison and a fine of about $322.

The 32-year-old was detained in his Beijing apartment in August, 
along with 23-year-old Taiwanese movie star Ko Chen-tung, known as 
Kai Ko, among others. Ko was released after a 14-day administrative 
detention for drug use.

The state-run New China News Agency reported that both tested 
positive for marijuana use, and police seized 3.5 ounces of marijuana 
during the raid, crimes that, according to the news agency, have a 
maximum sentence of three years.

"I violated the law. I deserve to be punished," Chan said in trial 
video that aired on state broadcaster CCTV. "When I return to 
society, I won't do it again."

Video of the raid, including Chan identifying marijuana in his home, 
was shown on national television before his plea. The CCTV report 
said Chan had told police he had been using illegal drugs for eight years.

Chinese authorities' attitudes on drug use traditionally have been 
severe, with little distinction between marijuana and harder drugs, 
and enforcement has intensified since the summer. Drug abuse, nearly 
unheard of before the 1980s, is now a growing problem.

In February, China's public security ministry instructed national 
police to "get tough" on drug use and prostitution. President Xi 
Jinping echoed this in June when he called for "forceful measures" 
against illegal drug use.

The edicts spurred raids in the summer that, according to police, 
ended in the detention of more than 7,800 people on drug charges. 
Officers visited bars and nightclubs and used on-the-spot drug tests. 
Authorities deported foreigners who tested positive.

Those detained included notable actors, directors and pop stars whose 
names were publicly listed. The State Administration of Press, 
Publication, Radio and Television has said such cases were a bad 
example for the country's youths.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom