The Edison Chen Koon-hei sex photos scandal broke on January 27 last year when a picture of Chen and Canto-pop singer Gillian Chung Yan-tung, semi-clothed, appeared on internet discussion forums.
The following day, another picture featuring Chen and Bobo Chan Man-woon performing a sex act appeared on the internet.
Chung's management, the Emperor Entertainment Group, claimed the photographs were digitally manipulated and complained to the police. But that did not stop the photographs from spreading.
More photos, featuring female celebrities including Cecilia Cheung Pak-chi, appeared on the internet in the following days. Chen's management company also complained to the police.
On January 31, police announced the arrest of unemployed Chung Yik-tin, who was suspected of distributing the photographs. On February 2, another five men and two women were arrested, including computer technician Sze Ho-chun.
Then on February 4, after the police announced they had traced the photos to a computer sent for repair, Chen eventually broke his silence with a video statement and pleaded with the public to destroy the photographs. However, he did not admit taking them.