Too good to be true: former TV host accused of falsifying artwork prices

A well-known Cantonese television programme host is being prosecuted for cheating people out of 220 million yuan (HK$255 million) using artworks, mainland media reports.

Chen Weicong, a former programme host for Guangdong Television Station who was popular with the local audience for 20 years, was accused by Guangzhou prosecutors of falsifying prices of antiques and selling them to an undisclosed number of victims at much higher prices during a period from 2011 to 2014.

He sometimes forged these certificates for the antiques or covered up the real auction price of the artworks.

Chen and his wife were detained and put under police control in September.

He is renowned for hosting variety programmes, gala performances and sports programmes. Chen has won a Golden Mic Award, China’s highest award for TV hosts and hostesses.