Airlee Clinic Spycam Scandal: President Chang Ru-shan Detained
The spycam scandal engulfing Taiwans largest medical aesthetics chain took a dramatic turn Wednesday as a New Taipei court ordered the detention of Airlee Group (愛爾麗醫美集團) president Chang Ru-shan (常如山), his executive assistant Chang Yuan-ling (張元齡), and engineer Hsieh Jin-heng (謝金亨). All three face charges under the Personal Data Protection Act and Criminal Code. The New Taipei District Court cited three key grounds for detention: risk of evidence destruction, flight risk, and the gravity of the alleged offenses. The total number of victims filing complaints has surged to at least 251, according to the Consumer Protection Department, with consumer advocacy groups estimating the potential victim pool could exceed 1,000 across Airlees 18 branches nationwide.
The scandal erupted on May 1 when a customer at Airlees Banqiao (板橋) branch noticed a suspicious device resembling a smoke detector and discovered it was in fact a hidden pinhole camera. What followed, according to prosecutors, was a systematic effort to destroy evidence: within hours of the initial discovery, engineer Hsieh allegedly began removing surveillance hard drives from at least 10 branches across northern Taiwan, working his way south. Court documents indicate some hard drives were formatted, complicating forensic recovery efforts. The speed and scope of the alleged evidence destruction — described in media reports as "一路向南滅證" (destroying evidence all the way south) — was cited by the judge as a key reason for ordering detention without visitation rights.
Public outrage has swelled as former customers and even ex-employees have come forward. A former Airlee employee in Tainan — who worked at the company unaware of the hidden cameras — told police she was "terrified" after seeing news reports and worried she may have been secretly recorded in private moments. In Banqiao, one female customer tearfully told media, "Nobody wants to be seen completely exposed," describing procedures where patients are in vulnerable positions. Attorney Ou Hui-chen (歐蕙甄), herself a former Airlee customer, has organized a victims support group that has grown to over 700 members. She issued a public statement pledging to lead the group in seeking justice and compensation.
In response to the crisis, Airlee announced a full refund policy for unused course packages, pledging not to deduct gift values or charge processing fees. However, consumer advocates quickly flagged a critical issue: the refund agreement form reportedly included language requiring customers to waive civil and criminal legal claims — a "fatal trap," as one lawyer described it. New Taipei City government has stepped in, receiving 57 formal consumer dispute filings and announcing legal counseling services for affected customers starting May 11. Taipei City has launched similar assistance programs. Meanwhile, authorities also inspected an affiliated postpartum care center under the same corporate group, though no surveillance equipment was found in patient rooms there.
The scandal has sent shockwaves through Taiwans medical aesthetics industry, which serves hundreds of thousands of customers annually. Celebrity endorsers, including singer and actress Jeannie Hsieh (謝金燕), have distanced themselves from the brand. Veteran entertainer Kang Kang (康康) publicly stated he is now afraid to undergo any cosmetic procedures. Actress Lang Tsu-yun (郎祖筠) shared her own story of discovering a hidden camera disguised as a beverage box in a public restroom years ago, advising the public to "turn off the lights and look for red dots." The case has also reignited broader public concern about privacy in medical settings, with womens advocacy groups publishing guides on how to detect hidden recording devices using smartphone cameras.