Four Singaporean men who were arrested in December last year for allegedly raping two women in Taipei have been charged with sexual assault.

Lau Wei Seng, Bryan Ong Kun Jun, Tan Juan Yin and Lim Wei Xuan, all 23, were charged yesterday.

Shih-lin district leading chief prosecutor Chen Hsi-chu told The Straits Times that the men are expected to appear in court next week at the earliest. They are being represented by Taiwanese lawyers.

Mr Chen said that Lau was an exchange student at a university in Taipei, while the rest were visiting him.

According to their charge sheets, which were issued to the media, the men met the two women at a club on Dec 10 and contacted them the next day through social messaging app Line to invite them to Lau's apartment for drinks.

The men allegedly raped them after getting them drunk. Despite repeated pleas from both women, they were forced to engage in oral and anal sex.

All four men were arrested at Ximen subway station in Taipei's Ximending shopping district on Dec 13. They had their luggage with them when they were arrested.

They reportedly claimed that they had consensual sex with the women.

Three of the men - Ong, Tan and Lau - remain in police custody, while Lim was released on bail days after the arrest. Taiwan media has reported that Lim is barred from leaving the island.

If convicted of rape, they each face up to 10 years in jail.