Taiwan police have busted 36 pop stars for falsely promoting fake weight-loss medicine.

The local media reports six of the stars have been arrested.

The fake weight loss medicine has been on the market for 8 years. Preliminary estimates say the scam cheated more than 2 million people out of around 1 billion new Taiwan dollars (about US$30 million).

The fake medicine reportedly causes headaches, loose bowels, nephritis and other diseases. One woman even claims the medicine placed her life in danger by causing her to suffer renal failure.

The police investigation into the fraud found none of the stars have ever tried the medicine, or learnt what its ingredients are.

(CRI.cn April 10, 2007)