By. Daniel Bates. Samsung has been ordered to pay a $340,000 fine by a regulator in Taiwan for paying people to write negative online reviews about a competitor’s mobile phones. The tech giant was found to have hired people to attack HTC  whilst praising its own products in a cut-throat attempt to corner the market. The ‘reviewers’ did not reveal who they actually were, meaning that the public were being fooled into thinking that they were reading honest appraisements. The fake reviews related to an advert about the camera functions on Samsung's Galaxy Y Duos GT-S6102, one of its flagship products. The fine marks a new low in the bitter battle for the mobile phone market that is being fought by Samsung, Apple, Google and HTC. Sun Lih-chyun, a spokesman for the Taiwan Federal Trade Commission, branded Samsung ‘deceitful’ for what it did. He said: ‘This is the first case of its kind in Taiwan that a company has concealed its genuine status while attacking a rival. ‘The behaviour has negative impacts on market order and violated the fair trade law.’ The fake reviews related to an advert about the camera functions on Samsung’s Galaxy Y Duos GT-S6102, one of its flagship products. The Taiwan FTC said its activities were designed to ‘highlight the shortcomings of competing products’ and that it was responsible for the ‘disinfection of negative news about Samsung products’. HTC was described as ‘the victim of a campaign of defamation’. Posting fake reviews online is known in the mobile industry as ‘astroturfing’. Posting fake reviews online is known in the mobile industry as 'astroturfing'. In addition to Samsung, two marketing firms in Taiwan were fined a combined total of $100,000. In addition to Samsung, two marketing firms in Taiwan were fined a combined total of $100,000. According to research firm IDC, last year Samsung held a 30.3 percent share of the global smartphone market whilst Apple had 19.1 percent and HTC had 4.6 percent. Samsung has run into a series of legal troubles, not least with Apple which won a $1bn patent dispute with it in a California court when a judge ruled it had ripped off its designs. Both sides have used ripe language to accuse the other of theft with Apple alleging that Samsung ‘flagrantly copied’ its products. British, Dutch and German courts have disagreed with the verdict and ruled that Samsung products are sufficiently different from those made by Apple. For its part Samsung has alleged that Apple has stolen data management and mobile communication technology from its designs. Samsung said: ‘We are disappointed that the Taiwan FTC has decided that we have violated the Fair Trade Act based on online marketing activities. ‘Samsung Electronics Taiwan is carefully reviewing the decision and will take all necessary steps to protect our reputation as a company which values its customers.’

Write highlights.
Found to have hired people. to attack HTC while praising own products. 'Reviewers’ didn't reveal who they were, meaning that the public were being fooled into thinking. that they were reading honest appraisements. Taiwan Federal Trade Commission branded Samsung ‘deceitful’

Problem: A schoolgirl rape victim is to hire a private detective to track down her attacker, who has been on the run abroad for more than a year after being granted bail. The young Midlands victim was left distraught after Portuguese national Antonio Pedro de Alves, 41, fled the UK just days before his trial last May. He was convicted of raping the then 12-year-old in his absence and sentenced to 11 years. But more than a year on and de Alves has not been traced, despite an international arrest warrant being issued. Antonio Pedro De Alves was convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl in his absence and sentenced to 11 years' jail. Now the girl's mother has revealed that her determined daughter plans to hire a private detective to track down de Alves because of the apparent lack of progress in the case by Staffordshire Police. The victim, now 15, plans to fund the hunt from money due to be awarded to her by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. Her mother said: 'We do not know if police have any leads, any sightings, or even if they have spoken lately to police in Portugal, where we believe he is probably living. For my daughter, her life is in limbo. 'She cannot move on while the man who abused her is walking free. 'She is due to receive money ... early next year. She plans to use some of that to hire a private detective to see if they can trace her rapist. 'I am disgusted that she feels she has to do this, but she thinks this could help bring him to justice.' De Alves was living in Rugeley, Staffordshire, when he first contacted his victim via the social website Bebo, claiming to be a sports-loving 15-year-old. Skipped bail: De Alves, 41, was due to stand trial for rape at Stafford Crown Court but was granted bail. Over months he groomed the youngster online and eventually convinced her to meet in a supermarket car park in Cannock. But when the schoolgirl arrived de Alves claimed that he was a relative of the 15-year-old boy, who he said had asked him to meet her because he was running late. The youngster was suspicious and tried to flee, but de Alves pulled her into his car where the attack took place. The schoolgirl reported the attack to police in December 2011 and de Alves was arrested the following January and his computers seized. He was charged in January 2013, but was inexplicably granted bail. He fled abroad shortly before his trial last May. The mother said: 'The police investigation from the very beginning seemed slow and it has all been such a long, drawn out process. We couldn't believe he was allowed bail after being charged, as he was a foreign national who could easily slip abroad. 'My daughter has been so brave, and is now slowly rebuilding her life and hopes to eventually start a university course. We are all so proud of her but she deserves justice.' De Alves was living in Rugeley, Staffordshire, when he first contacted his victim via the social website Bebo, claiming to be a sports-loving 15-year-old. Staffordshire Police issued a statement last night: 'A warrant was issued by the courts after de Alves failed to appear and officers from a specialist investigation team began inquiries to locate de Alves using a variety of tactics. Inquiries are ongoing and Staffordshire officers are in continuous contact with foreign authorities via the National Crime Agency and Interpol. 'While we are making inquiries to locate de Alves we do not have jurisdiction, or power in law, to go to another country until their law enforcement officers have detained the wanted individual. Our officers have supplied the relevant authorities with a significant amount of information and our work with them is ongoing.' The police also insisted the family were 'happy' at the updates they are receiving from the force. 'After hearing of the victim's family's initial dissatisfaction at lack of contact after the court date we agreed a communication method with a single point of contact and remain committed to updating them with any investigative developments. They understand and are happy that this will only be when there is significant news.' But the mother said: 'The police family liaison officers have been wonderful, but there is only so much they can tell us. 'Since de Alves's conviction we have had very little feedback from police about their search for him and have heard nothing substantial about the investigation for months. We have been left in the dark.' The West Midlands Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that following Alves's conviction and sentencing, an international warrant had been issued for his arrest and passed on to police.
Summarize this article.

Answer:
Antonio Pedro de Alves, 41, fled the UK just days before his trial last May. He initially contacted victim via the social networking site Bebo. He claimed to be a sports-mad 15-year-old boy. Victim will use her compensation to fund the private detective. Convicted in his absence at Stafford Crown Court rape trial.