TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Hong Kong esports personality Kurtis Lau Wai-kin (劉偉健) will spend four years and two months in a Taiwan prison after the Supreme Court rejected his appeal against a sentence for selling cannabis online, reports said Saturday (April 27).

The YouTuber, also known as Toyz, was detained in 2021 when police in Taichung City tracked down the supplier of a group of marijuana users. After admitting his part and providing information about his sources, Lau was released on bail of NT$1.5 million (US$46,000), per CNA.

Taichung District Court concluded that as a former esports champion, Lau had been a bad example to his young fans by involving himself in drug dealing. However, he had also cooperated with authorities, so the court handed down a sentence of four years and two months.

In an appeal to the Taiwan High Court, Lau emphasized how he had shown remorse and performed work on behalf of numerous charities. However, the court upheld the previous prison term because it ruled the YouTuber’s crime had been serious, as he had spent NT$600,000 to buy a considerable amount of drugs for his activities.

A final appeal to the Supreme Court failed, as the judges concluded Lau had not given himself up to the authorities, and could therefore not benefit from a reduction of his sentence. Prosecutors will decide when Lau must begin his jail term, the report said.