Authority reveals detailed investigation result over Chinese actress’ 'high-priced earrings' case

The joint working group in Ya'an, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, has released the investigation result on Wednesday related to a Chinese actress's "high-priced earrings" case, which has sparked widespread public attention as many netizens questioned the source of her wealth due to her father's former role as a government official in Ya'an.

The investigation started after the actress, Huang Yangtiantian, posted photos of her coming-of-age ceremony on social media on May 10. The earrings she wore were claimed by some netizens as part of a classic collection from a luxury brand, with an official price of around 2.3 million yuan ($319,000). 

Some netizens also speculated that Huang's father was in charge of the post-disaster reconstruction project after the Ya'an earthquake and he was suspected of embezzling post-disaster reconstruction funds. Huang's father then denied on May 16 and said that this is just a rumor.

Ya'an has set up a working group composed of the disciplinary inspection and supervision, public security, and market regulation departments to investigate the case. 

The working group has released a statement in May, confirming that Huang's father was not involved in any bidding, fund approval, or donation processes for post-disaster reconstruction during his time in Ya'an. 

However, authorities have found evidence suggesting that he may have engaged in business activities in violation of regulations while employed, and that he may have intentionally concealed an illegal second childbirth during the recruitment process and his period of employment.

Investigations haven't stopped since the incident. The joint working group has established to conduct further investigations into the case. 

The latest investigation result shows that the so-called "high-priced earrings" wore by Huang turned out to be a gift from a friend of her mother in 2016 and were replicas of a luxury brand's jewelry. 

On May 29, at the request of Yang and Huang's mother, surnamed Si, the working group accompanied the couple to the National Gem & Jewelry Testing Co Ltd for an inspection of the earrings. Testing results showed that the earrings were made of glass. The working group further learned that the domestic brand's stores had no records showing that Yang or Si, as well as their relatives, had purchased earrings from them.

According to the investigation, both Yang and Si's households are not currently registered in Sichuan, and none of their family members hold any public servant positions. During Yang's work in Ya'an, he did not handle any post-disaster reconstruction projects, funds, or charitable donations, nor did he profit from any other means. The other companies registered by Yang and Si did not engage in commercial activities in Ya'an. No other illegal or irregular activities by Yang were found during his time in Ya'an.

Regarding the accusation of Yang's engagement in business and running enterprises without authorization, the investigation statement said that Yang once illegally set up a company and received a profit of 30,000 yuan from it. The supervisory authority has confiscated all his illegal income. Since he has resigned, no administrative penalties will be imposed on him.

With regard to Yang illegally having a second child, the investigation said that Yang's second child was born in South China's Shenzhen in January 2011. Yang intentionally concealed this fact during his recruitment assessment in February 2011 and during his employment period as a government official. 

Since Yang has already resigned and the relevant penalties for illegally having a second child have since been abolished, based on current laws, regulations, and policies, no further action can be taken regarding his second child and intentional concealment.