Taiwanese film director Doze Niu indicted in naval base ploy
Doze Niu used false papers to take Chinese cinematographer Cao Yu onto a naval base in Taiwan
Acclaimed Taiwanese director Doze Niu was indicted on Friday for using false papers to take a Chinese cinematographer onto a naval base in Taiwan to scout film locations, prosecutors said.
Niu and award-winning cinematographer Cao Yu were both charged with violating a law that bans Chinese nationals from entering Taiwanese military facilities, prosecutors said. The offence is punishable by a maximum five-year jail term.
“Niu was aware that Chinese nationals were barred from entering a military port but brought Cao there for scouting. However, they were not found to have pried in military secrets or committed forgery,” said prosecutor Huang Yuan-kuang.
Filmmakers have often gone overboard and resorted to all possible means to make a great work and it’s time to reflect
Niu had repeatedly applied to the military to take Cao with him to scout locations for his upcoming movie Military Paradise at a naval base in the southern city of Kaohsiung but was rejected.
However, Cao got into the base in June last year by getting on a bus with the rest of Niu’s crew members, who were on the approved list of visitors and also boarded a naval ship, according to prosecutors.
The navy decided to withdraw all assistance to Niu after the incident and reported him to prosecutors.
“We thank everyone for their concerns on the case and we respect the judicial process for all follow-up matters,” said the film’s production company Atom Cinema.