Taiwanese actress Tsai Yi-chen arrested over staining Japan temple stone
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Deborah Tsai Yi-chen was identified through security camera footage and arrested when she re-entered Japan in August.
PHOTO: DEBORAH TSAI/FACEBOOK
- Taiwanese actress Tsai Yi-chen was arrested in Japan for pouring glycerin on a national treasure stone at Yakushiji Temple, believed to be Buddha’s footprint.
- She explained to police that she poured oil on objects that moved her during prayer, causing the incident.
- Tsai’s manager apologised for the inconvenience and said the case is under investigation; further updates will be provided later.
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TOKYO – A Taiwanese woman in the entertainment industry has been arrested by Japanese police for the alleged vandalism of a treasured stone monument at a temple in western Japan in April.
According to local police, Deborah Tsai Yi-chen, 39, is suspected to have poured a liquid on a stone engraved with lines representing Shakyamuni Buddha’s footprint at Yakushiji Temple in Nara on April 6.
Tsai, arrested on Aug 22, was quoted as telling the police: “Since I pour oil on things that move me when praying, I think I poured oil on the Buddha’s footprint stone.”
Glycerin – used as a sweetener and in cosmetics – was detected in the liquid, the police said.
The actress is best known for her role as student Wuxiong in the Taiwanese idol drama KO One (2005 to 2006).
At the time of the incident in April, Tsai was visiting the temple, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, as a tourist. The police identified the suspect through security camera footage and arrested her at Kansai International Airport in Osaka Prefecture when she re-entered Japan.
The stone monument is designated as a national treasure.
In a statement posted on Facebook on Aug 24, Tsai’s manager apologised for “the public concern and inconvenience caused by this incident”.
The matter is under investigation by the authorities in Japan in accordance with the law, the manager said, adding: “At this stage, we are still unable to make direct contact with her.”
“Once the situation has been further clarified, and provided that doing so does not affect the relevant proceedings, we will provide further information to everyone in a unified statement when appropriate,” the statement said. KYODO NEWS
