Chen indicted, faces 'most severe sentence'

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-12-13 08:42

TAIPEI: Prosecutors here indicted former leader Chen Shui-bian on graft charges on Friday.

Chen, 57, has been held in a suburban Taipei jail since Nov 12, pending the results of an investigation into allegations he engaged in money laundering and other offenses during his recently concluded time in office.

Taiwan's former leader Chen Shui-bian (C) arrives at Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Special Investigation Panel (SIP) to be questioned about a money laundering case in Taipei November 11, 2008. [Agencies]

Indicted together with Chen were his wife, Wu Shu-chen; his son and daughter-in-law; three of his former aides in the "presidential office"; and eight other associates and family members.

Prosecutorial spokesman Chen Yun-nan said the former leader and his wife together embezzled NT$104 million ($3.12 million) from a special "presidential" fund, and received bribes of $9 million in connection with a government land procurement deal.

Wu alone took another bribe of $2.73 million from a government construction project, he said.

"Chen Shui-bian undermined justice again and again and showed no regret," Chen Yun-nan said.

"We ask the judges to give him ... Wu, (son) Chen Chih-chung and Chen Chih-chung's wife, Huang Jui-ching ... the most severe sentence."

Chen Shui-bian could face up to 20 years in jail.

He has denied all charges, claiming he is being persecuted by Ma Ying-jeou's new government.

At a news conference convened shortly after the indictments were announced, Chen's lawyer echoed his client's claims of innocence.

"What prosecutors are charging ... is not true," Cheng Sheng-chu said.

Ma's office said it would not comment on the indictments.

Since Chen was jailed on Nov 12, the corruption scandal has galvanized Taiwan people from all walks of life.

The former leader went on hunger strike the day of his incarceration but began eating again after 16 days, heeding pleas from his wife and family to preserve his strength.

Chen Shui-bian, a former maritime lawyer, is expected to mount a vigorous defense against the corruption charges.

He still retains a core of enthusiastic supporters, but many former political allies have turned their backs on him, regarding him as a liability to the pro-independence cause both he and they espouse.

Agencies