Police have threatened to prosecute bad boy Chinese author Wang Shuo after he confessed he takes drugs and visits prostitutes during an interview on a Phoenix TV talk show.

The Beijing Public Security Bureau on March 8 declared Wang Shuo is liable for prosecution if his shock admission on the "Three Person March" talk show a few days ago was true.

Wang Shuo frankly disclosed the unsavory details of his personal life on the show without reservation, triggering a heated debate on the Internet. He's known for making frequent criticisms of others, but now quite a few netizens are accusing him of losing his mind.

Mindful or not, a legal officer from Beijing police authorities has declared Wang Shuo will be punished according to the law if his confession is found to be true.

"If the case is so serious, he will suffer the consequences under the Criminal Law. If not so serious, he will be prosecuted under the Security Management Law," he said.

Hao Junbo, a lawyer from Lehman, Lee & Xu, says Wang Shuo is likely to be sentenced to a short term of imprisonment more than 10 days and less than 15 days due to his contact with prostitutes. He is also likely to be fined up to 5,000 yuan.

He may also face imprisonment for taking drugs.

"While taking drugs is illegal under the Security Management Law, it is also possible Wang Shuo may be sentenced to imprisonment if his drug possession reaches the standard in the Criminal Law," Hao Junbo said.

(CRI.cn March 10, 2007)