Actor sentenced to six months for drug offenses
Xinhua, January 27, 2015 Adjust font size:
Actor Zhang Mo, son of renowned actor Zhang Guoli, was sentenced on Tuesday by the Haidian District People's Court in Beijing to six months in prison for drug offenses.
The court also fined him 5,000 yuan (800 U.S. dollars) for providing venues for drug users.
According to the court, Zhang, 32, had provided venues for recreational drug use on two occasions. The maximum sentence for this crime is a three year prison term. The court said that as Zhang had admitted his guilt to police before an investigation was launched he had received a lighter sentence.
Zhang pleaded guilty on Tuesday, saying he had learned from his mistake and would never break the law again.
The actor was detained on July 29 last year by Beijing police alongside two others for smoking marijuana, just two years after being put under administrative detention for taking drugs.
His sentencing comes less than a month after Jaycee Chan, son of Chinese kung fu star Jackie Chan, was sentenced to six months in prison for drug offenses by the Dongcheng District People's Court in Beijing.
The list of Chinese celebrities implicated in drug-related crimes has increased in recent years, tainting the entertainment business and angering the public.
In September 2014, the Beijing Trade Association for Performers announced it would not hire celebrities implicated in drug cases. Sixteen Chinese production companies also pledged to not hire stars involved in prostitution, drugs or gambling cases. Endi