TAIPEI (Taiwan News) —  Actor Chiu Sheng-i (邱勝翊), known as Prince Chiu, was among nine people questioned on Wednesday on suspicion of evading compulsory military service.

Authorities have continued investigating draft evasion among entertainers, following three prior crackdowns last year in February, May, and October, per CNA. Wednesday’s operation involved the New Taipei Criminal Investigation Corps, Yonghe Precinct, and other units across Taipei, New Taipei, and Taoyuan, resulting in the arrest of nine suspects, including Chiu and supercar influencer Arthur Shao (邵某).

Police arrived at Chiu’s rented apartment in eastern Taipei on Wednesday morning and first encountered his younger brother, actor Chiu Yu-chen (邱宇辰), known as Modi. After confirming Chiu was home, officers went upstairs to arrest him.

Chiu admitted paying NT$300,000–400,000 (US$9,400–12,500) to fake hypertension to evade military service and was later transferred to the New Taipei District Prosecutors' Office for further questioning.

Investigators first uncovered a draft evasion case involving entertainer Darren Wang (王大陸) in February last year. In May, they traced additional entertainers allegedly approaching the main suspect, Chen Chih-ming (陳志明), using tactics such as holding their breath or hiring stand-ins to fake blood pressure readings. 

In June, prosecutors indicted Chen, William Liao (廖亦崟), Nine Chen (陳零九), and 28 others on charges under the Punishment Act for Violation of the Military Service System. Wang, though not completing desertion, was indicted for document forgery, with prosecutors seeking a one-year sentence.

Authorities expanded the crackdown in October, summoning entertainers including Hsiu Chieh-kai (修杰楷) and Chen Bo-lin (陳柏霖). By November, 12 people were indicted, with prosecutors seeking specific sentences of two years and eight months for five individuals, including Hsiu, Chen, Hsieh Kunda (謝坤達), Chang Shu-wei (張書偉), and Leow Jun-jie (廖俊傑).