The Taiwan High Court yesterday announced that it would hear final arguments in the corruption case against former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and his co-defendants on Wednesday and deliver its verdict on June 11.
Taipei District Court sentenced Chen to life in prison in September after handing down a guilty verdict in the first trial against the former first couple and 11 others.
In addition to the life sentence, Chen and his wife were also found guilty of embezzlement and taking bribes totaling NT$800 million (US$25.4 million). Chen was fined NT$200 million and had his civil rights annulled for life for violating the Punishment of Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例), Money Laundering Control Act (洗錢防制法) and Criminal Code (刑法).
PHOTO: CNA
In the first trial, former first lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) was given a life sentence, fined NT$300 million and also had her civil rights annulled for life.
Chen Shui-bian’s son, Chen Chih-chung (陳致中), was sentenced in September to two years and six months in the money laundering case and fined NT$150 million for helping his parents wire money overseas.
Chen Shui-bian’s daughter-in-law, Huang Jui-ching (黃睿靚), was sentenced to one year and eight months and fined NT$150 million on money laundering charges.
Chen Shui-bian was first detained on Nov. 12, 2008, and released on Dec. 13, 2008, following his indictment.
He was detained again on Dec. 30, 2008, after Taipei District Court approved a request by prosecutors to take him back into custody and has been in detention ever since.
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