ZIYI PAID TO HAVE SEX WITH BO XILAI

SEEMS like there is a skeleton in Zhang Ziyi's closet. The Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon star is reportedly under investigation by the Chinese government for being paid to have sex with disgraced former top government official, Bo Xilai.

Hong Kong's Apple daily and other Chinese media reported that the pair was first introduced by Bo's associate, Xu Ming, who is the founder and chairman of Dalian Shide Group.

Sources say Xu confessed to paying Ziyi 6mil yuan (RM2.9mil) in 2007, to have sex with her for the first time. He later negotiated a deal for Bo to have sex with Ziyi, for 10mil yuan (RM4.8mil).

Reports say the 32-year-old actress slept with Bo at least 10 times between 2007 and 2011 in Beijing.

The Chinese media also estimated that Ziyi's sexual transactions with various rich and powerful figures have netted her 700mil yuan (RM336mil) over the last 10 years.

This includes 180mil yuan (RM86mil) in cash from Xu.

Her wealth from prostituting herself was not taxed, due to intervention from Xu and other government officials.

Xu reportedly pimped the mainland Chinese actress out to two other high-level officials as well.

Media news outlets speculate that investigations into these allegations could explain why Ziyi was absent from the recently concluded Cannes film festival.

Her film Dangerous Liaisons premiered at the festival, which her co-star, Hong Kong actress Cecilia Cheung, attended.

Ziyi claimed she was busy shooting the film, The Grandmasters, and was unable to attend the festival. (asiaone)