HONG KONG (AFP)
Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi has sued Hong Kong's leading newspaper
the Apple Daily and its sister weekly Next Magazine over reports
that she prostituted herself with senior Chinese officials.
The "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" star signed the suit
presented to the Hong Kong High Court on Monday, saying the
reports were "seriously defamatory" and "false".
An article in Apple Daily on May 29 said Zhang "is a prostitute"
and had sexual intercourse with disgraced top official Bo Xilai
and his wealthy associate Xu Ming for money on "numerous
occasions", the court document said.
The tabloid also alleged the 33-year-old actress had sex with
other top officials and "unnamed rich persons", and had accrued a
fortune worth 700 million yuan ($110 million) from these illicit
liaisons over 10 years.
"The plaintiff has been subjected to public odium, hatred,
contempt or ridicule," the suit signed by the actress said,
adding it would seek unspecified damages.
"The plaintiff's public image has also been seriously and
continuously undermined which has caused and will continue to
cause loss and damage to her profession and career."
Apple Daily, a Chinese-language newspaper known for racy
celebrity gossip and strong criticism of the Chinese communist
authorities, did not reply to requests from AFP for comment on
the suit.
The story was removed from the newspaper's website after Zhang
threatened to sue last month.
Bo was sacked from his post as boss of Chongqing city in March
and then suspended from China's powerful central politburo for
"serious discipline violation" -- code for corruption. He has not
been seen since.
His wife, Gu Kailai, is in custody under suspicion of ordering
the murder of a British businessman.
Zhang also denied Apple Daily's assertion that she was now under
investigation by Chinese authorities and was barred from leaving
China.
Apple Daily and Next Magazine are both owned by Hong Kong
entrepreneur Jimmy Lai's Next Media. The company's share price
fell 1.79 percent on Tuesday while the broader Hang Seng index
was down 0.64 percent at lunch.
