TAIPEI, Jun 12, 2010:The Taiwan High Court rejected former President Chen Shui-bian’s appeal of his conviction on charges of corruption, forgery and money laundering Friday, but lightened the sentences for him and former first lady Wu Shu-jen from life imprisonment to 20 years.

Fines for Chen and Wu were also reduced to NT$170 million (US$5.26 million) and NT$200 million from the earlier NT$200 million and NT$300 million, respectively. Chen maintained his innocence and said he will appeal the case to the Supreme Court.

Chen returned to the detention center after hearing the announcement of the ruling. The chief judge told Chen that the court will issue a written statement next week informing him of whether he will be granted bail or remain in custody.

In its indictment, the High Court accused the former first couple of disappointing high public expectations and of a lack of self-examination after news erupted of their alleged embezzlement of state funds. The couple’s pressuring of subordinates to tamper with evidence made it more difficult for prosecutors to investigate, thus seriously hurting the image of the judicial system, it said.

The sentence of Chen’s son, Chen Chih-chung, was also lowered. He received one year and two months and a fine of NT$30 million, a reduction from two and a half years and a fine of NT$150 million. Huang Jui-ching, Chen’s daughter-in-law, was given a one-year jail term and a fine of NT$20 million, which was also lighter than the previous verdict of one year and eight months in jail and a fine of NT$150 million.

Sentences for Chen’s other 10 former aides and associates were also considerably lightened, with the exception of Chen Chen-hui, the ex-president’s former bookkeeper, who was given seven months in jail after a “not guilty” ruling in the first trial.

Although the three-judge panel did not decide whether the former president should be kept in custody or set free while being tried on other charges, Chen and his attorneys believe that he stands a good chance of “regaining freedom.” Chen promised to wire back another NT$570 million from Switzerland, which he said was all political contributions from enterprises, in addition to the US$21 million that the court is seeking from his family in exchange for his release on bail. Chen has remained in detention since Dec. 30, 2008.
The Special Investigation Division (SID) under the Supreme Prosecutors Office said it will decide whether to appeal after receiving the High Court’s rulings.

The High Court lowered the sentences for the former first couple mainly on the grounds that the amount of the special presidential funds they were charged with embezzling was only NT$14.96 million. The figure was significantly lower than the over NT$100 million previously ruled by the Taipei District Court, which adopted a looser standard in defining Chen’s alleged embezzlement. High Court judges said they believed that Chen had used part of the money for legitimate, secret diplomatic missions.

In line with regulations, the Supreme Court must close Chen’s case within three months if the High Court decides to keep Chen in custody. If Chen is granted bail, the Supreme Court must close the case within one year. (June 12, 2010).

The question of whether the High Court will release Chen on bail next week has surfaced as an issue of major public concern.Prosecutors asked that Chen be kept in detention, saying that the reason he was detained has not changed. Despite this, Chen still stands a chance of being set free, though bail could exceed NT$100 million, law experts said.

According to the director at the former president’s office, an unnamed “friend” has promised to lend money to help with Chen’s possible bail.