Stephen Chow sues firm for misusing his portrait

VETERAN Hong Kong comedy actor Stephen Chow has sought an estimated 30 million yuan (RM17.83mil) in compensation from a building material company that misused his portrait in advertisements, Sin Chew Daily reported.

Chow sued the company at Shanghai No.1 Intermediate People’s Court and hearing will begin on Aug 31.

According to information provided by his movies fans in January last year, the compa- ny had used his portrait in several Internet advertisements.

He was also wrongfully linked to the products advertised.

Chow’s lawyer had sent a legal letter to the company asking it to take down the advertisement but it was discovered in September last year that his portrait was again being misused in an advertisement.

The actor also asked the company to publicly apologise within 90 days.

> A 32-year-old secondary school security guard was jailed for six years after he was convicted of raping a 15-year-old student in Batu Kawa, Kuching, China Press reported.

He was charged under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum of 20 years’ jail and liable to whipping, if convicted.

Since the accused did not use force on the victim, he was not sentenced to whipping. The victim is now 29 weeks pregnant. The prosecutor was not satisfied with the light sentence and appealed to the higher court.

> Four men aged between 20 and 50 were arrested in Sibu, Sarawak, for stealing funerary objects, China Press reported.

They were also suspected to be involved in several cases of thievery at Iban graveyards in Sarikei.

This is because the Iban community has a tradition of burying the dead with gold accessories and valuable items belonging to the deceased.