Hours after former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) was convicted of graft on Friday, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus said it would seek to scrap monetary benefits for retired heads of state convicted in their first trial.
KMT Legislator Wu Yu-sheng (吳育昇) brought up the amendment at a dinner held by the Presidential Office on Friday night for lawmakers to exchange ideas with President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) and Vice Premier Eric Chu (朱立倫).
Wu Yu-sheng proposed that the amendment be retroactive.
“It’s not a political vendetta against Chen,” he said, “but if you think about it, it doesn’t make sense to spend taxpayers’ money on a corrupt politician.”
KMT legislative caucus whip Lin Yi-shih (林益世) said Ma supported the idea, which the KMT caucus will list as a priority for the legislative session that begins on Friday.
Under the Act Governing Preferential Treatment for Retired Presidents and Vice Presidents (卸任總統副總統禮遇條例), during the first four or eight years after leaving office — depending on whether a president served one or two terms — a former head of state receives NT$250,000 a month, in addition to an annual stipend for office expenses, staff and transportation. The stipend starts at NT$8 million (US$245,000) the first year and decreases by NT$1 million each year, dropping no lower than NT$5 million.
A former head of state loses the benefits if he or she takes up a paid public position; is convicted in a final trial of sedition, treason or corruption; loses his or her citizenship; or moves abroad.
“I think the privileges for former presidents and vice presidents should be suspended if they are found guilty in the first instance,” Wu Yu-sheng said after the dinner.
He first proposed the amendment last year, when it cleared a legislative committee but was not put to a vote.
The amendment would revoke the benefits after a conviction in the first trial, but reinstate them if the person in question is later cleared. Benefits lost during the interval would be compensated.
Chen and his wife Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) on Friday received life sentences and fines of NT$200 million and NT$300 million respectively.
A prisoner serving a life sentence can apply for parole after 15 years.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday criticized the proposed amendment.
“The purpose of the [amendment] is to hound Chen Shui-bian and humiliate him and his family,” DPP Legislator Tsai Huang-liang (蔡煌瑯) said.
DPP Legislator Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) said the move “further proves that the ruling in Chen’s case was the result of political manipulation.”
Separately, staff at the Taipei Detention Center where Chen is held said the former president seemed composed after receiving the more than 1,000-page ruling.
Chen read it and took notes, the staff said.
After waking up yesterday, Chen watched TV, read newspapers and listened to the radio, occasionally taking notes, the staff added.
Meanwhile, approximately 30 people gathered outside the home of Judge Tsai Shou-hsun (蔡守訓) yesterday to protest his ruling.
“Tsai Shou-hsun, we think you are shameless,” they shouted.
An argument ensued after neighbors complained about the noise.
One of Tsai’s neighbors shouted: “Is there no justice in Taiwan? If you’re involved in corruption, you should go to jail.”
Police were present in case of physical confrontations.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
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