As soon as the plane carrying Liao Chuan-yu landed at about 3:30 a.m. at the Taoyuan International Airport, prosecutors and investigators boarded the aircraft to arrest the ex-Yunlin County commissioner, officials said.
But Liao was granted bail and then transported to the China Medical University Hospital for treatment on his diabetes and heart problems.
Liao's family on Feb. 12 asked the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) to help arrange a charter plane to transport the seriously ill ex-Yunlin chief back to Taiwan from China, SEF Secretary General You Ying-lung said.
Liao, charged with embezzlement and violation of the election law, fled Taiwan in 2002 the day before a district court handed down a guilty verdict and gave him two years and eight months.
You stressed the Chinese government did not play a part in the return of Liao, as the plane was arranged through the help of International SOS.
He said as many Taiwan fugitives are still hiding in China, both sides must open talks for the establishment of a crime-fighting mechanism.
The joint-effort for crime-fighting is needed to correct the Taiwanese people's misperception of China as a haven for fugitives, as well as to safeguard the interests of both sides, You said.
An official with International SOS said the family had hoped to bring Liao back on Sunday -- Chinese New Year Day -- with the plane landing at the airport of the central city of Taichung.
But because of technical issues the plane did not land until early yesterday morning, the official said.
The plane was also re-directed to the Taoyuan International Airport because the Civil Aviation Administration thought it would be safer to land there.
