Chen cleared of NT$610 mil. bribery charges

　But Chen will remain behind bars as he continues to appeal further corruption convictions.

　Chen and his wife, Wu Shu-jen, were accused of taking bribes from Cathay and Yuanta, who sought his help in their respective merger deals in line with the government push for financial reform.

But the Taipei District Court determined that the money cannot be considered as a bribe for the purposes of the merger, as presidential power does not extend to such financial matters.

All 19 other co-defendants in the case, including members of the Chen family and executives from the two groups, were also found not guilty of money laundering and other charges.

During the trial, the defendants argued that the money was a political contribution. Prosecutors could make an appeal to the Taiwan High Court.

The former president smiled and nodded frequently while presiding judge Chou Chan-chun read out the not-guilty verdict in the courtroom.

After hearing the ruling, his supporters inside the courtroom shouted “Long live A-bian.”

Outside the court building, his other supporters chanted slogans proclaiming Chen's innocence and demanding that he be freed immediately.

But Chen was remanded in custody despite the acquittal, as he had been previously given 20 years by the high court in another corruption case. He is in the process of appealing the high court verdict at the supreme court.

His attorney, Cheng Wen-hsuan, later cited the former president as thanking the court for making a “fair judgment.”

Chen's office issued a statement outlining plans to arrange a rally Tuesday night to demand the immediate release of the ex-president.

Chen and Wu were indicted in December 2009 for taking separate sums totaling NT610 million from Cathay and Yuanta.

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