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High Court extends former president¡¦s
period of custody
By Rich Chang
STAFF REPORTER, WITH STAFF WRITER
Saturday, Jun 19, 2010, Page 3
The Taiwan High Court yesterday extended former president
Chen Shui-bian¡¦s (³¯¤ô«ó) detention by two months on the grounds that he may flee
the country if released.
The ruling dashed his family¡¦s hopes that Chen, whose current detention order
expires on Wednesday, would be released following their request to Swiss banking
authorities that money be sent to a bank account designated by the Special
Investigation Panel (SIP) of the Supreme Prosecutors¡¦ Office. Taiwan High Court
judge Teng Chen-chiu (¾H®¶²y) has previously said the move could enhance the
chances of the former president being released.
On Thursday, the SIP said that another US$1 million in funds stashed by the
ex-first family in banks in Switzerland had been wired to Taiwan. The latest
remittance brought to US$13.51 million the amount Chen¡¦s family had wired from
Switzerland to Taiwan, with a further US$7 million left in two Swiss bank
accounts.
Teng yesterday said that so far the court could only confirm the remittance of
US$13 million to Taiwan.
He added Chen might flee the country if he were released, saying that Chen, as a
former president, has better foreign connections than most people, and with the
foreign assets he might take charge of, it was considered a risk to release
Chen.
Chen and his wife, Wu Shu-jen (§d²Q¬Ã), were accused of embezzling public funds,
forgery and money laundering during Chen¡¦s terms as president.
Chen was first detained at the Taipei Detention Center in Tucheng (¤g«°) on Nov.
12, 2008, and released on Dec. 13, 2008, following his indictment.
He was detained again on Dec. 30, 2008, after the Taipei District Court approved
a request by prosecutors to take him back into custody. He has remained in
detention since.
On Friday last week, Chen and Wu had life sentences reduced to 20 years in
prison after the Taiwan High Court handed down the verdict for the second trial.
Fines for Chen and Wu were also reduced to NT$170 million and NT$200 million
from the earlier NT$200 million and NT$300 million, respectively. Chen maintains
his innocence and said he will appeal the case to the Supreme Court.
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