Former Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian detained on money-laundering charges
Former Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian has been detained on charges of money laundering, embezzling government funds, taking bribes and forging documents. Television coverage showed him shouting “political persecution” while being led away in handcuffs.
“The KMT and the Chinese Communist Party see me as their number one prisoner as I am the biggest stone blocking their way to reunification,” Chen said according to reports.
However, court proceedings were halted so that he could be taken to hospital, due to an injury sustained after he was detained. He was discharged when doctors found that his injuries were minor, and Chen returned to court the following morning.
Lai Ching-teh, an opposition leader, said, “The former president told the judges that he was pushed from behind while being escorted out of the prosecutors’ office, and demanded that he be sent to the National Taiwan University Hospital to examine his injuries.”
“This political manipulation is aimed at destroying the DPP and insulting a former leader by handcuffing him. We assure the public that the DPP will not be defeated,” said Lee Chun-yee, a legislator from Chen’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Chen has publicly admitted that his wife wired tens of millions of dollars oversea, but denies any wrongdoing. He has also admitted to getting government money by submitting false receipts, though he claims that the purpose of this was only to fund “secret diplomatic missions” and not benefit himself.
Chen is a lawyer by profession and served as the President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) from May 20, 2000 through May 20, 2008.
Chen, his wife, son, daughter-in-law and brother-in-law have been named as defendants in a separate money laundering case.
Background Brief: Chen Shui-bian
Chen Shui-bian (traditional Chinese: 陳水æ‰; pinyin: Chén ShuÇbiÇŽn; Wade-Giles: Ch’en Shui-pien; PeÌh-Åe-jÄ«: Tân Chúi-pÃâ¿, born October 12, 1950) is a Taiwanese politician and former President of the Republic of China. He is colloquially referred to as Ah-Bian (阿æ‰; Ä€biÇŽn; Taiwanese: 阿æ‰ä»” A-pÃâ¿-à ).
Chen, whose Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has traditionally been supportive of Taiwan independence, took office in 2000, ending more than fifty years of Kuomintang (KMT) rule in Taiwan.
After narrowly winning the Republic of China presidential election, 2004, Chen’s second-term was marred by scandals. On November 3, 2006, his wife and three other high-ranking officials under the Presidential Office were charged with corruption for embezzling NTD14.8 million (~USD $460,000) of government funds using forged documents.
Taiwan’s Central News Agency said anti-corruption prosecutors are investigating the ex-president “over his alleged misuse of his discretionary ’state affairs fund’ and a money-laundering case involving the former first family.”
In January 2008, he resigned as chairman of the DPP, accepting responsibility for the party’s defeat in the legislative elections.
Chen left the Democratic Progressive Party on August 15, 2008, a day after admitting to falsifying past campaign expenses and wiring campaign contributions to overseas accounts. On November 12th, 2008 Chen was arrested and faces a five-year sentence for his involvement of the money-laundering scandal.
Chen Shui-bian is an Honorary Member of The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation.
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