Canadian-Chinese actor Kris Wu, once a top star in China, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison with expulsion from the country for his involvement in rape, group licentiousness, and tax evasion amounting to 300 million yuan back in November 2022. After serving four years in jail, recent reports have surfaced that he was transferred from prison to a detention center in Chaoyang, Beijing due to the discovery of additional tax evasion charges worth over 300 million yuan.
According to a self-proclaimed criminal defense lawyer on social media, Kris Wu’s return to the detention center from prison was prompted by the emergence of new undisclosed crimes related to tax evasion of over 300 million yuan. The lawyer explained that if Kris Wu is found guilty of tax evasion, it would result in a revision of his sentence, with the time already served being taken into consideration in the new judgment.
Furthermore, it has been rumored that Kris Wu, dubbed as the “boss” in the detention center, enjoys relatively favorable treatment compared to other inmates. Reports suggest that he does not have to do daily chores and is served meals like steamed buns with cabbage, tomatoes, and scrambled eggs. There were previous rumors about Kris Wu gaining over 20 pounds during his imprisonment.
Kris Wu’s troubles began in 2021 when he was detained and subsequently arrested for alleged rape, leading to a widespread ban on his activities in the entertainment industry. Following his first trial in November 2022, where he received a 13-year prison sentence, Kris Wu is set to be deported to Canada upon completion of his term.
After the initial ruling, Kris Wu, dissatisfied with the outcome, appealed to the Beijing Third Intermediate People’s Court. The second trial took place on July 25, 2023, with the court deciding to uphold the original verdict on November 24, 2023, after six months of deliberation.
In a surprising turn of events last year on April 19, a tax arrears notice related to Kris Wu went viral on Weibo. Official information disclosed that two companies affiliated with Kris Wu, “Inner Mongolia Fanshi Audiovisual Media Co., Ltd.” and “Inner Mongolia Chaoting Cultural Media Co., Ltd.,” owed a combined total of approximately 4.28 million yuan in corporate income taxes.
Since Kris Wu’s imprisonment, several brands associated with him have been seeking compensation from his companies, including one run by his cousin, Wu Lin, and another managed by his mother. Netizens have expressed surprise at the ongoing developments concerning Kris Wu despite his absence for three years and questioned the management of his companies during his incarceration and tax liabilities.
Despite spending over four years in prison, Kris Wu continues to be a subject of various rumors, from his mother’s alleged actions in court and selling cars for money to his efforts to reduce his sentence through songwriting and reports of facial swelling. While the new tax evasion allegations may impact his sentence through the “first merge then deduct” approach, some fans remain pessimistic, suggesting that Kris Wu may indeed have an extensive prison term ahead of him.