Taiwanese singer Jay Chow's company, Alfa Music Publishing Co., has asked Taiwan-based Apple Daily for NT$100 billion (US$3.11 million) in damages for what it said was an inaccurate story.

A recent Apple Daily story said Chow avoided military service by faking medical records for spondylitis, inflammation of the vertebrae. Alfa general manager Yang Jun-rong said the report was groundless and produced two documents showing that authorities exempted Chow from military services for spondylitis in 1999, before Chow rose to fame.

The military authorities said Chow was found to be suffering from spondylitis in 1998. Chow's uncle also suffers from the hereditary disease.

An Alfa spokesperson said nobody had asked Chow to retake medical tests.

(Shenzhen Daily February 28, 2006)