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Updated Friday, December 19, 2008 9:40 am TWN, The China Post news staff

Chen again released without bail

Chiou I-jen, former secretary-general of the National Security Council, was arrested on charges of embezzlement in connection with Chen's secret diplomacy scandal.

At least NT$570 million (US$17.2 million) changed hands as bribes in the financial reform scandal.

Cheng Shen-chih, former chairman of the Mega Financial Holdings Company, and Tu Li-ping, a close friend of former first lady Wu Shu-chen, have been questioned as defendants.

So was Jeffrey Koo, Jr., former vice chairman of the China Trust Financial Holdings who ended life on the lam in Tokyo to return and face prosecutors.

Chen initiated what is known as the second financial reform to halve the number of leading banking institutions, forcing all top bankers to seek his favor in order to survive.

Tu, in particular, was charged with transferring at least NT$740 million (US$22.8 million) in cash from a bank to another bank's safety deposit room. She was also accused of carrying NT$200 million (US$6.15 million) to President Chen's official residence.

These people, the prosecutors argued, may be intimidated if President Chen remains free.

"They may also be coerced to collaborate with Chen Shui-bian to retract what they have testified during the investigation," said Chen Yun-nan, spokesman for the Special Counsel.

Wu Shu-chen is standing trial. She was first indicted on November 3, 2006, charged with borrowing receipts and invoices from friends and relatives to claim a NT$14.8 million reimbursement from a public fund under her husband for the conduct of "affairs of state."

He was not indicted along with her, but was regarded as an unindicted co-defendant who would be formally charged upon leaving office. He stepped down May 20.

During the investigation the Special Counsel launched four months ago, the Chens and their son and daughter-in-law were founded to have misused the "state affairs" fund.

President Chen claimed most of the money, at least US$22 million laundered at two Swiss banks, was a fund for founding a republic of Taiwan. He also alleged some of the slush fund was spent for conducting his secret and personal diplomacy.

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December 19, 2008 marcwu@

Nonsense to refer the case back to the same judge who made a bias release order. The system should allow for prosecutors to refer to different judges for a different opinion. By the time we can (if ever) have Chen back in detention again, it may be too late to prevent him from tampering with crime evidences or orchestrating witness statements. By all means, get Chen back in jail now.

December 22, 2008 emlcc@

Chen should not have been released. The judge concerned is clearly biased and the case should be tried by a different judge. It makes a mockery of the judicial system of Taiwan in the eyes of the World.

January 8, 2009 cigars898@

The judicial system was already a mockery. They jailed a former president for a month without an indictment. It sounds like something the spooks in China would do.



	Former President Chen Shui-bian, center, leaves Taipei District Court without speaking to the media. The court judge Chou Chan-chun again released the ex-president without bail late last night. (CNA) Enlarge Photo


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