Son An-tso Indicted for Allegedly Making Flamethrower and Possessing Shotgun; Court to Hold Detention Hearing

(CNA Taipei, June 29) Actor Sun Peng and Di Ying's son, Son An-tso (legal name Son Chien-hao), has been indicted by the Shilin District Prosecutors Office on charges including firearms offenses for allegedly manufacturing a flamethrower and possessing an unlicensed shotgun. He was transferred to the court today. The Shilin District Court will hold a detention hearing at 4 p.m. to decide whether to continue detaining Son An-tso.

According to the indictment, between January and April this year, Son An-tso operated a shoulder-mounted flamethrower device seven times, opening the gas valve to its maximum. He tested its flamethrowing power on roads, sidewalks, and parking lots used by the public. During these tests, long-range, wide-area high-temperature flames were produced, along with large amounts of black smoke and leaking oil gas after combustion, creating danger to the public.

Prosecutors found that a person in charge named Chiu signed a cooperation agreement with Son on March 28 this year under the company's name. Chiu's company would produce short videos, and Son An-tso would cooperate in filming them for a fee of NT$5,000 per video, which also required promotional activities. A cameraman named Chiang was responsible for some of the video planning, filming, and post-production.

Prosecutors stated that on the evening of April 22, around 6 p.m., Son An-tso operated the flamethrower device on an industrial road in Beitou District, Taipei City. A friend named Chen assisted with ignition, and cameraman Chiang filmed and did post-production. The video was publicly uploaded to Son's social media account on May 14. Son received a total remuneration of NT$25,000 for this and other short video productions.

Prosecutors discovered that between 2018 and 2019, Son An-tso purchased a lethal unlicensed shotgun for NT$10,000 to NT$20,000 from an unidentified netizen online. He also purchased a lethal licensed air rifle and a Glock replica gun that is subject to prohibition.

Today, the Shilin District Prosecutors Office indicted Son An-tso and his friend Chen on charges of endangering public safety and threatening the public under the Criminal Code. Son An-tso was also indicted for possessing a lethal firearm and a prohibited replica gun under the Statute Governing the Control of Guns, Ammunition, and Knives. Chiu and Chiang were granted a one-year deferred prosecution for alleged threats to the public.

In May, the Shilin District Prosecutors Office apprehended Son An-tso. After interrogation, due to significant suspicion of Son committing offenses including firearms violations, and sufficient grounds to believe he might flee, destroy evidence, collude with accomplices and witnesses, or repeat the offense, a request for detention and prohibition of contact was approved. After today's indictment, prosecutors transferred Son An-tso to the Shilin District Court. The court will hold a detention hearing at 4 p.m. to rule on whether to continue his detention. (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150629

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