Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi is suing a US-based Chinese online news outlet over claims that she was a prostitute who had sex with top official Bo Xilai and others, a lawyer said Wednesday.
The "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" star is taking legal action for libel in Los Angeles over the claims by Boxun News, which is based in North Carolina and offers Chinese- and English-language news online.
"At the heart of all of the claims are a series of libelous defamatory statements printed by Boxun News about Zhang Ziyi," attorney Adam LeBerthon, of the law firm representing the actress, told AFP.
"Boxun News printed repeatedly that Zhang Ziyi is a prostitute, and that's the heart of our allegations. She does not know (Bo), has not met him and has nothing whatsoever to do with him."
The lawsuit, obtained by AFP, said Boxun News claimed that Zhang earned over $100 million for having sex with Chinese officials and others, in news reports in May and June this year which were republished by media around the world.
"But none of the underlying reports are true, and Boxun News never had any legitimate basis to publish them. It never contacted Ms Zhang before it published the reports to confirm any of the alleged 'facts," it noted.
The US lawsuit came after Zhang launched legal action in June against Hong Kong's leading newspaper the Apple Daily and its sister weekly Next Magazine over reports that she prostituted herself with senior Chinese officials.
An article in Apple Daily on May 29 said Zhang "is a prostitute" and had sex with Bo and his wealthy associate Xu Ming for money on "numerous occasions," the court document said.
Attempts to get reaction from Boxun News were unsuccessful. A telephone number given on its website did not work.
The next court hearing in the Los Angeles case is scheduled for October 16, followed by another on November 16, but no trial date has yet been set.
LeBerthon said the actress will likely not attend the pre-trial hearings.
"She will certainly be there at the time of trial, (although) the parties typically do not various pre-trial hearings," he added. "I don't expect Ms Zhang Ziyi to be any different."
Bo was sacked from his post as boss of Chongqing city in March and then suspended from China's powerful central politburo for "serious discipline violation" -- code for corruption.
Chinese authorities said late last month that Bo will "face justice" for a litany of crimes, including alleged abuse of power, taking bribes and improper sexual relations.
His wife, Gu Kailai, was handed a suspended death sentence for murder in August, after she was found guilty of murdering British businessman Neil Heywood, a crime she had confessed to, according to court officials.
The developments were the latest turn in a scandal that has rocked the Communist Party ahead of a once-a-decade power transition, with the party opening a pivotal congress to select new leadership on November 8.
Boxun News was founded in 2000, its website says, adding that its mission was to become the "most trusted Chinese online news service by insisting on 'Independence' and 'Journalistic Objectivity.'"
"Boxun News has apparently abandoned this mission in its quest for salacious headlines at the expense of Ms Zhang," said the lawsuit. (AFP)
<관련 한글 기사>
장쯔이, 계속되는 '성상납 스캔들'에 몸살
중국의 유명 여배우 장쯔이(章子怡)가 수요일 보시라이(薄熙來) 전 중국 충칭시 당서기와의 추문을 보도한 미국에 본사를 둔 중국 인터넷 뉴스 사이트에 법적 소송을 제기했다고 변호인이 전했다.
지난 5월 미국에 서버를 둔 반체제 성향의 중문 사이트 보쉰은 장쯔이가 쉬밍(徐明) 다롄스더(大連實德) 그룹 회장으로부터 한 차례 최고 1천만위안(약 17억7천만 원)을 받는 대가로 10차례 이상 보시라이와 성관계를 맺었다고 주장했다.
대만과 홍콩 언론이 먼저 보쉰 보도를 인용하는 형식으로 '성 접대설'을 보도하고 다시 전 세계 언론이 이를 옮기면서 장쯔이는 한동안 '보시라이 스캔들'에 시달려야 했다.
장쯔이 사건을 담당하는 변호사 아담 르벌톤은 “장쯔이에 관한 명예훼손성 기사들에의 중심에는 보쉰이 보도한 뉴스가 있었다”라고 AFP와의 인터뷰를 통해 말했다.
그는 또 “보쉰 뉴스는 장쯔이를 매춘부라고 연속적으로 보도했지만 장쯔이는 보를 알고 있을 뿐 만난 적도 없고 그와 어떠한 관련도 없다”고 말했다.
그러나 지난달 28일 중국 공산당이 보시라이를 출당 처분하면서 여러 여성과 ‘부당한 성관계'를 맺었다는 비위 혐의를 적시함에 따라 중국 인터넷에서는 상대 여성들에 관한 불분명한 각종 소문이 다시 퍼지고 있다.
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