I WAS involved in the sex trade.

This is what Taiwanese model Timi Hsiao told police on Saturday when she was arrested after being caught buying drugs.

She voluntarily confessed to smoking marijuana and taking ketamine too, reported China News.

The model has been released on NT$20,000 ($1,000) bail.

Timi, who shot to fame after starring in Jay Chou's music video, Hair White, claimed she prostituted herself as she was unable to cope with stress.

She alleged that Ms Ling Weiwei, an agent, arranged for her to sleep with at least 10 men in different hotels in Taiwan.

Timi's customers allegedly included politicians and professionals.

For each tryst, the men paid Timi NT$278,684 ($12,300), with Ms Ling allegedly keeping half the amount.

Timi claimed that during one unpleasant tryst early this year, she had to travel alone to Shanghai to meet a client who allegedly made her take drugs.

She maintained that she became addicted to drugs after that and her family had to bring her home.

Ms Ling has been arrested by Taiwanese police but she has been released pending investigations.

Sources said that initially, Ms Ling denied the accusation and even claimed she did not know Timi.

But when the police found a phone book with a list of clients' names, Ms Ling admitted she arranged for the men to meet Timi.

Beyond her control

Ms Ling claimed her involvement was limited only to arranging meetings and if Timi slept with the men, it was beyond her control.

She maintained that she was not directly involved in setting up the meetings and she was only working with Timi's agent.

Ms Ling also denied arranging for Timi to go to Shanghai to sleep with a client.
Industry insiders, however, told the media that Ms Ling operated the sex trade, using the code name "take notice" to hook celebrities and entertainers up with businessmen and politicians.

Timi's arrest came after police received information in January that a man was supplying drugs to entertainers.

She was allegedly caught red-handed paying a man NT$20,000 for drugs in Zhongxiao East Road in Taipei.

This article was first published in The New Paper.