Taipei: The Ministry of Culture has officially revoked a prestigious National Award for Arts given to Sakuliu Pavavaljung, an Indigenous artist, after his conviction for sexual assault. The decision comes in the wake of a final ruling by the Supreme Court that upheld the artist’s sentence.

According to Focus Taiwan, the Ministry has also requested the return of the NT$1 million (approximately US$31,766) cash prize that was awarded to Pavavaljung in 2018. The Supreme Court’s decision on April 1 marked the end of Pavavaljung’s legal battle after his appeal was dismissed, confirming the High Court’s earlier ruling that upheld the Pingtung District Court’s sentence from January 2025.

The 66-year-old artist has been sentenced to four years and six months of imprisonment for sexually assaulting a woman who was under his mentorship in 2021. Sakuliu Pavavaljung, a member of the Paiwan tribe, was originally honored with the National Award for Arts due to his significant contributions in the fields of sculpture, architecture, and painting, alongside his dedication to preserving traditional Indigenous craftsmanship.