Taiwan TV says court upholds conviction of former president, but cuts sentence to 20 years

Taiwan TV: Chen’s sentence cut to 20 years

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan’s High Court rejected former President Chen Shui-bian’s appeal of his conviction on graft charges Friday, but cut his life sentence to 20 years, TV stations reported.

All of Taiwan’s seven cable stations also said that former first lady Wu Shu-chen’s conviction on graft charges was upheld, but that her own life sentence was cut to 14 years.

The High Court was meeting in closed session to read out the verdict on the Chen and Wu cases, so it was impossible to immediately confirm the TV reports.

Chen, 59, was found guilty in September 2009 by the Taipei District Court of embezzling $3.15 million from a special presidential fund, receiving bribes worth at least $9 million, and laundering some of the money through Swiss bank accounts. He has been incarcerated in a suburban Taipei jail for the past 17 months.

Following Friday’s decision, Chen has the right to appeal to the Supreme Court.

The High Court is also considering a separate request by Chen to be released. A ruling is expected some time before June 23, when his detention order expires.

Throughout the proceedings against him, Chen has steadfastly maintained his innocence, insisting that he is the victim of efforts by current President Ma Ying-jeou to punish him for his pro-independence views.

Since replacing Chen two years ago, Ma has turned the corner on his predecessor’s anti-China policies, moving rapidly to improve relations with the mainland, from which Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949.

While most Taiwanese believe that Chen is guilty of at least some of the charges against him, critics say that the legal process has been partisan and unfair.

They point to the replacement of the three-judge panel that originally ordered him released on his own recognizance, the selective leaking of negative material on Chen to the press, and a skit mocking the former leader mounted by Justice Ministry officials, including one of the prosecutors investigating his case.

The Justice Ministry denies that Chen has been treated unfairly.

In addition to Chen and his wife, who is not being held in jail, other members of their family and several former associates have also been convicted on corruption charges stemming from their association with Chen, and sentenced to prison terms.