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Updated Friday, September 25, 2009 9:39 am TWN, The China Post news staff

High court decides to detain Chen Shui-bian

Three judges, chosen by lot by the Taiwan high court to hold former President Chen Shui-bian's second trial, decided to continue his detention yesterday.

Teng Chen-chiu and two lady judges Peng Hsing-ming and Pan Tsui-hsueh would sit in conference with the first presiding to try President Chen, his wife Wu Shu-chen and 14 other defendants, convicted of corruption on September 11.

Taipei district court judge Shou-hsun handed down guilty verdicts on all of the defendants. The former first couple were sentenced to life in prison. They appealed.

The first business of the newly formed panel of judges was to hear the petition by President Chen for release from detention.

The selection of the panel took place at 11:30 a.m., shortly after President Chen had been taken to the courthouse from the Taipei detention center in Tucheng by jail wagon.

He has been detained since December 30 last year. His wife has not been placed under custody for health reasons.

A hearing of the petition started at 2 p.m. It was closed at 8:45 p.m. to surprise even President Chen, who expected a long hearing that might last until early this morning.

When he was first detained, a hearing continued for more than 10 hours, ending shortly before 2 a.m.

Chen was determined to leave Tucheng with the best of defense.

More than 100 enthusiastic fans of President Chen gathered before the courthouse to cheer him, calling for his immediate release and demanding the appellate court to uphold his human rights.

"Ah-Bian is innocent," the crowd shouted. Ah-Bian is the name President Chen preferred to be called.

The former president has never pleaded guilty to charges pressed against him. He characterizes his receipt of political contributions topping NT$1.2 billion as nothing but "social guilt," a minor breach of social conduct which should be forgiven without punishment.

He is even trying to sue President Barack Obama and his Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to get out of Tucheng.

Obama and Gates are accused of failure to continue U.S. military occupation of Taiwan. Chen declared he is ready to go to Washington to testify against them in the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces so that he may be released from detention in Taipei.

Teng dashed Chen's wish to be released from detention.

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September 27, 2009 rizatan32@

I HOPE IN PHILIPINES IS LIKE THAT BECAUSE THE GOVERMENT IN PHILIPINES IS ALMOST THE SAME.



	Former President Chen Shui-bian's supporters protest the Taiwan Supreme Court's decision to continue his detention outside the courthouse, yesterday. The protesters were equipped with megaphones and held signs reading “release the man.” (CNA) More Photos (2)


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