TAIPEI – Taiwan’s media on Saturday called for a fair trial and urged the public to stay calm after the island’s former pro-independence president Chen Shui-bian was charged with corruption.
A slightly thinner and tired-looking Chen - who went on hunger strike while in detention - was released on bail early on Saturday after being charged with embezzlement and money laundering with 13 others including his wife and son.
Prosecutors say the 58-year-old Chen, the first ex-leader to face trial here, and his wife Wu Shu-chen made illegal gains of some US$45 million (S$67 million) from embezzling public funds and taking bribes from local businessmen.
Their son Chen Chih-chung and daughter-in-law Huang Jui-ching were also indicted for money laundering in connection with the massive case, which has captivated Taiwan for months.
‘I want to thank my lawyers, members of the Democratic Progressive Party and my supporters who have given me huge encouragement,’ Chen said after his release.
‘I am grateful to those who cared for, supported and looked after me so I could get through the hardest and loneliest 32 days of my life in prison,’ he said.
Taipei’s Apple Daily called the politically charged case a ‘milestone’ for the rule of law in Taiwan and urged the judges to make their decision based on the evidence alone.
‘The case will have a profound impact on Taiwan ... to become a milestone to further Taiwan’s democracy and its rule of law,’ it said.
‘We urge the judges to focus on the evidence ... while politicians and commentators should respect the judicial system so the case can become a positive lesson in Taiwan,’ it said.
The pro-independence Liberty Times voiced similar sentiments in an editorial.
‘Whether a former president is guilty or not depends on the evidence ... He is innocent until proven guilty according to the law and his right to due process should be protected,’ the newspaper said.
The English-language China Post also called for calm for the upcoming trial. Taiwan has a turbulent history and has frequently been rocked by large-scale protests in recent years.
‘All the people should wait patiently for the outcome of the trial ... They shouldn’t do anything to influence the judges in any way, because the rule of law in Taiwan is at stake,’ it said.
‘We should show the world that Taiwan is a democracy where anybody who commits a crime, be he a man on the street or a former president, is duly punished.’
Prosecutors have vowed to seek ‘the severest punishment’ for Chen. Legal experts say he could face life in prison if convicted.
Supporters of Chen and the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party have protested in the streets, accusing the current administration under President Ma Ying-jeou of using the scandals to plan a political plot against the former leader.
Chen, who pledged to clean up Taiwanese politics when he broke the KMT party’s 50-year grip on power in 2000, left office in May after serving the maximum two four-year terms as president.
The ex-leader, who angered Beijing with his pro-independence policies, has repeatedly accused the island’s current China-friendly government of mounting a witch hunt against him.
Chen will appear for all court hearings once a trial begins, his lawyer said, after his wife angered the courts by missing 17 court appearances since her indictment on corruption charges in late 2006, citing ill health.
1 comment:
Taiwan’s Chen Released on Bail
Media urges fair trial
13 December 2008
TAIPEI – Taiwan’s media on Saturday called for a fair trial and urged the public to stay calm after the island’s former pro-independence president Chen Shui-bian was charged with corruption.
A slightly thinner and tired-looking Chen - who went on hunger strike while in detention - was released on bail early on Saturday after being charged with embezzlement and money laundering with 13 others including his wife and son.
Prosecutors say the 58-year-old Chen, the first ex-leader to face trial here, and his wife Wu Shu-chen made illegal gains of some US$45 million (S$67 million) from embezzling public funds and taking bribes from local businessmen.
Their son Chen Chih-chung and daughter-in-law Huang Jui-ching were also indicted for money laundering in connection with the massive case, which has captivated Taiwan for months.
‘I want to thank my lawyers, members of the Democratic Progressive Party and my supporters who have given me huge encouragement,’ Chen said after his release.
‘I am grateful to those who cared for, supported and looked after me so I could get through the hardest and loneliest 32 days of my life in prison,’ he said.
Taipei’s Apple Daily called the politically charged case a ‘milestone’ for the rule of law in Taiwan and urged the judges to make their decision based on the evidence alone.
‘The case will have a profound impact on Taiwan ... to become a milestone to further Taiwan’s democracy and its rule of law,’ it said.
‘We urge the judges to focus on the evidence ... while politicians and commentators should respect the judicial system so the case can become a positive lesson in Taiwan,’ it said.
The pro-independence Liberty Times voiced similar sentiments in an editorial.
‘Whether a former president is guilty or not depends on the evidence ... He is innocent until proven guilty according to the law and his right to due process should be protected,’ the newspaper said.
The English-language China Post also called for calm for the upcoming trial. Taiwan has a turbulent history and has frequently been rocked by large-scale protests in recent years.
‘All the people should wait patiently for the outcome of the trial ... They shouldn’t do anything to influence the judges in any way, because the rule of law in Taiwan is at stake,’ it said.
‘We should show the world that Taiwan is a democracy where anybody who commits a crime, be he a man on the street or a former president, is duly punished.’
Prosecutors have vowed to seek ‘the severest punishment’ for Chen. Legal experts say he could face life in prison if convicted.
Supporters of Chen and the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party have protested in the streets, accusing the current administration under President Ma Ying-jeou of using the scandals to plan a political plot against the former leader.
Chen, who pledged to clean up Taiwanese politics when he broke the KMT party’s 50-year grip on power in 2000, left office in May after serving the maximum two four-year terms as president.
The ex-leader, who angered Beijing with his pro-independence policies, has repeatedly accused the island’s current China-friendly government of mounting a witch hunt against him.
Chen will appear for all court hearings once a trial begins, his lawyer said, after his wife angered the courts by missing 17 court appearances since her indictment on corruption charges in late 2006, citing ill health.
Post a Comment