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Chinese ‘political interference’ behind
jailings, Chen Shui-bian’s office says
By Vincent Y. Chao / Staff Reporter
Jack Chen, right, director of the office of
former president Chen Shui-bian, and former director Chen Sung-shan, left, talk
to reporters in Taipei yesterday about the expected jailing of the former
president’s wife, Wu Shu-jen.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
The office of former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday accused the
government of putting Chen and his wife behind bars because of “political
interference from China,” three days before the former first lady is expected to
report to Taichung Prison.
The office told a press conference that Beijing wanted to “split the DPP
[Democratic Progressive Party]” and divide Taiwan’s ethnic groups, adding that
Taipei appeared to be playing along.
“From Chen’s arrest, lawsuit and jail sentence, traces of China’s involvement in
the judicial process are clearly evident,” it said. “[Beijing] has marked Chen
and his immediate family as important targets.”
Chen, who was found guilty by the Supreme Court of bribery and money laundering,
is serving a 17-and-a-half-year sentence at Taipei Prison.
Chen’s wife, Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍), was a co-defendant in the case and received the
same sentence, although she has yet to begin her jail term, pending a health
report.
Chen’s office said protests were planned for Friday, when Wu is to report to the
Kaohsiung District Prosecutors’ Office, where she will be accompanied to
Taichung Prison’s Pei Teh Hospital for a health evaluation.
If it is determined that the former first lady is well enough to serve time, she
will begin serving her sentence at Taichung Prison immediately after the
evaluation. Otherwise, she will be sent back home until it is determined when
the sentence can start.
“We will respect the final decision made by prosecutors,” office director Jack
Chen (陳嘉爵) said. “However, we hope [DPP] officials and lawmakers can continue to
support our case and see if the Ministry of Justice can give us some leeway.”
DPP lawmakers have contended in the past week that Wu is too frail and weak to
serve her sentence in a jail cell — although prison officials say such worries
are unfounded.
DPP Legislator Tsai Huang-liang (蔡煌瑯), accompanied by pro-independence groups,
visited Chen Shui-bian yesterday, where he said the former president was still
alert and staying abreast of political developments.
Blasting President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) over the recent diplomatic row with the
Philippines, Chen Shui-bian reportedly told Tsai that if he had been president,
he would have had a “direct line to the Filipino president.”
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