The Banciao District Court charged Cheng Bo-geng, 36, with violating the narcotics endangerment prevention act and gave him a heavy 27-year prison sentence along with a NT$4 million fine. Three accomplices of Cheng received 19-, 13- and seven-year sentences respectively.

Evidence pointed to Cheng as the lead perpetrator. Cheng had allegedly started working with an Australian named "Jim" on the cultivation of cannabis in the June of 2006.

Along with the three other accomplices, the men were able to start a mini marijuana plantation in a nearby loft. Cheng then sold the illegal plant for profits.

Cheng was released on bail for the offense. He was caught again this past March for growing marijuana in a loft in Kaohsiung. The harshness of his final sentence can be attributed to his repeat offense.

The case caused a commotion in 2006, when investigators from the Banciao District Office entered Cheng's loft in Taipei City that was rumored to be cultivating cannabis.

Ten artists in the entertainment industry were caught smoking marijuana in the loft and further probes exposed artists Tuo Chung-kang and Chu Chung-heng as being among them, which resulted in a six-month long investigation that exposed the infamous marijuana-smoking scandal in the entertainment industry.