Wednesday, January 21, 2009 2:17:51 AM
Taiwan's graft-tainted ex-leader publishes prison diary
Former Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian, who has been in jail for more than two months awaiting trial on corruption charges, Monday published a prison diary proclaiming his innocence. Publication of the 246-page "Taiwan's Cross" coincided with Chen's first court appearance since his appeal for bail was refused earlier this month. In the book, as in court, Chen rejects the allegations of graft and money laundering and claims that the charges against him and his family are politically motivated. The diary includes an account of Chen's student days when, he says, he began his life-long campaign to defend Taiwan's sovereignty from mainland China. The diary's preface is written by Lee Hung-hsi, Chen's mentor at Taiwan University law school. "For those who have long supported Chen, reading the book will convince them that their support is correct... for those who have abandoned A-bian [Chen's nickname], this would be the chance to listen to his last defence," Lee wrote. During Monday's court appreance, Chen accused his successor, Ma Ying-jeou of the China-friendly Kuomintang, of conducting a witch-hunt against him. Chen left office in May, after serving the maximum two four-year terms, during which he and his Democratic Progressive Party frequently annoyed Beijing with their pro-independence stance. The DPP was defeated by the China-friendly Kuomintang in the March elections. Chen and his wife, Wu Shu-chen, are accused of embezzling 104 million Taiwan dollars (3.15 million US) in public funds and accepting a bribe of about 12 million US dollars in a land-purchase deal. At the end of Monday's hearing the judge ordered Chen to be sent back to his detention centre. A hearing set for Wednesday was postponed to February 24 after Chen's lawyers said they needed more time to prepare his defence. No date has yet been set for Chen's trial to begin.
http://www.nownews.com/2009/01/21/138-2398305.htm
Former Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian, who has been in jail for more than two months awaiting trial on corruption charges, Monday published a prison diary proclaiming his innocence. Publication of the 246-page "Taiwan's Cross" coincided with Chen's first court appearance since his appeal for bail was refused earlier this month. In the book, as in court, Chen rejects the allegations of graft and money laundering and claims that the charges against him and his family are politically motivated. The diary includes an account of Chen's student days when, he says, he began his life-long campaign to defend Taiwan's sovereignty from mainland China. The diary's preface is written by Lee Hung-hsi, Chen's mentor at Taiwan University law school. "For those who have long supported Chen, reading the book will convince them that their support is correct... for those who have abandoned A-bian [Chen's nickname], this would be the chance to listen to his last defence," Lee wrote. During Monday's court appreance, Chen accused his successor, Ma Ying-jeou of the China-friendly Kuomintang, of conducting a witch-hunt against him. Chen left office in May, after serving the maximum two four-year terms, during which he and his Democratic Progressive Party frequently annoyed Beijing with their pro-independence stance. The DPP was defeated by the China-friendly Kuomintang in the March elections. Chen and his wife, Wu Shu-chen, are accused of embezzling 104 million Taiwan dollars (3.15 million US) in public funds and accepting a bribe of about 12 million US dollars in a land-purchase deal. At the end of Monday's hearing the judge ordered Chen to be sent back to his detention centre. A hearing set for Wednesday was postponed to February 24 after Chen's lawyers said they needed more time to prepare his defence. No date has yet been set for Chen's trial to begin.
http://www.nownews.com/2009/01/21/138-2398305.htm
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