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Updated Thursday, September 10, 2009 9:14 am TWN, The China Post news staff

Former first lady's imprisonment issues

Former first lady Wu Shu-jen has now been officially convicted of perjury and sentenced to a year in prison. Defendants in the same case, Wu's two children and her son-in-law were also convicted, although they received a lesser sentence of six months, a term that can be substituted for community service. This is by no means the end of the former first lady's legal troubles. She is still a defendant in several other cases including money laundering, forgery and corruption. She has yet to be convicted and sentenced in these cases, but given the preponderance of evidence against her, there is a good chance that she will end up with several more years tacked on to the one-year term she has already earned. This Friday, September 11th, Wu's husband, former President Chen Shui-bian will find out if his nearly one-year stay at the Taipei Detention Center in Tucheng will be extended and by how long.

Bear in mind that Taiwan's judicial system works a little differently than legal procedures in the U.S. or Europe. Dispensing with a jury, in most cases in Taiwan, a panel of three judges issues a ruling and a sentence. Those convicted generally have the right to appeal two successive times to two higher courts. The higher court can uphold, reduce or extend the original sentence, so appeals can be a gamble.

The former first lady's son-in-law Chao Chien-ming had his sentence for insider trading extended by 12 months in 2007. The court also tacked a NT$30 million fine on to Chao's sentence of eight years and four months. Chao is appealing to the Supreme Court, as is his right, but barring some unprecedented legal judgment that overturns two guilty verdicts; Chao will eventually have to report to prison to serve his term.

In the meantime, Chao has been working as a doctor in southern Taiwan. Chao was first convicted in 2006, the sentence was extended in 2007 and now again in 2009, but Chao remains a free man, perhaps for several more years. In other words, the wheels of Taiwan's justice system do move, but they can run slow. In all likelihood, the former first lady and the former president will be in and out of court for years to come. There's even a chance the final Supreme Court verdict will not come down during the tenure of current ROC President Ma Ying-jeou.

But, seeing as the former first lady has now been convicted and sentenced, it's perhaps not too early to look at what options there are for incarcerating her. As most are aware of, Wu Shu-jen is basically unable to care for herself.

In November 1985, Wu was struck by a farm vehicle that — according to online encyclopedia Wikipedia — ran over her three times. At the time of the accident Wu and Chen Shui-bian were in Tainan thanking supporters after an election loss. The driver of the vehicle, Chang Jong-tsai, served a jail term of one month, but was accused by Chen supporters of being a KMT assassin.

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