Taipei court orders 2-month extension to Chen’s detention
Lawrence Chung in Taipei 4 March 2009
Former Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian, tainted by allegations of graft, will remain in detention until at least May 26.
In the latest ruling last night on another request for his release, Taipei District Court ordered that Chen be held for two months after his detention period expires on March 26.
It stressed there was a strong need to continue to detain Chen on the grounds that he could flee, given he faces life in jail if convicted of massive corruption. Chen has been held at the Taipei Detention Centre since December 30.
“What is most critical is his repeatedly using his influence to try to obstruct the judicial proceedings against him,” Judge Tsai Shou-hsun said in a 10-page ruling. “If freed, it would make it more difficult for the judicial authorities to deal [with] further proceedings against him.”
The district court had been undecided since last Thursday whether to release Chen. On Friday, the Taiwan High Court ordered the district court to reconsider his request to end his detention.
According to Chen’s aides, the ex-president was not optimistic about a ruling in his favour, though some legal experts said the chances for his release were about even.
“Regarding whether he would be freed, the ex-president has remained reserved,” said Chen’s chief aide, Liu Tao, after visiting him.
Mr. Liu said Chen felt that if the district court really wanted to release him, it would have done so on Thursday.
Insisting that holding him was a serious violation of human rights, Chen and his pro-independence supporters have been highly critical of the move.
Chen has twice staged hunger strikes to protest against what he claimed was political persecution by his successor, Ma Ying-jeou of the mainland-friendly Kuomintang. Chen claims he has been jailed to appease Beijing.
A court source said that Chen’s publication of a book and interview with foreign media while being detained made the court believe he would continue to criticise judicial authorities if released.
Chen published a book called The Cross of Taiwan in January in which he said the prosecution against him was politically motivated. Through his office, he gave an interview to the Financial Times last month in which he alleged that the mainland’s hatred of him was the major reason for his prosecution.
Some pro-independence figures, including former legislator Lin Cho-shui, however, laughed off his claim by saying that it was just a gimmick to canvass sympathy from the international community and support from the pro-independence camp.
Chen’s decision to resort to international media to air his predicament had also prompted criticism from KMT legislators that the ex-president was using the foreign media to attack the mainland and the Ma government.
The detention centre has since changed Chen’s daily 30-minute visits by non-relatives to weekly ones.
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Taipei court orders 2-month extension to Chen’s detention
Lawrence Chung in Taipei
4 March 2009
Former Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian, tainted by allegations of graft, will remain in detention until at least May 26.
In the latest ruling last night on another request for his release, Taipei District Court ordered that Chen be held for two months after his detention period expires on March 26.
It stressed there was a strong need to continue to detain Chen on the grounds that he could flee, given he faces life in jail if convicted of massive corruption. Chen has been held at the Taipei Detention Centre since December 30.
“What is most critical is his repeatedly using his influence to try to obstruct the judicial proceedings against him,” Judge Tsai Shou-hsun said in a 10-page ruling. “If freed, it would make it more difficult for the judicial authorities to deal [with] further proceedings against him.”
The district court had been undecided since last Thursday whether to release Chen. On Friday, the Taiwan High Court ordered the district court to reconsider his request to end his detention.
According to Chen’s aides, the ex-president was not optimistic about a ruling in his favour, though some legal experts said the chances for his release were about even.
“Regarding whether he would be freed, the ex-president has remained reserved,” said Chen’s chief aide, Liu Tao, after visiting him.
Mr. Liu said Chen felt that if the district court really wanted to release him, it would have done so on Thursday.
Insisting that holding him was a serious violation of human rights, Chen and his pro-independence supporters have been highly critical of the move.
Chen has twice staged hunger strikes to protest against what he claimed was political persecution by his successor, Ma Ying-jeou of the mainland-friendly Kuomintang. Chen claims he has been jailed to appease Beijing.
A court source said that Chen’s publication of a book and interview with foreign media while being detained made the court believe he would continue to criticise judicial authorities if released.
Chen published a book called The Cross of Taiwan in January in which he said the prosecution against him was politically motivated. Through his office, he gave an interview to the Financial Times last month in which he alleged that the mainland’s hatred of him was the major reason for his prosecution.
Some pro-independence figures, including former legislator Lin Cho-shui, however, laughed off his claim by saying that it was just a gimmick to canvass sympathy from the international community and support from the pro-independence camp.
Chen’s decision to resort to international media to air his predicament had also prompted criticism from KMT legislators that the ex-president was using the foreign media to attack the mainland and the Ma government.
The detention centre has since changed Chen’s daily 30-minute visits by non-relatives to weekly ones.
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