Hundreds of supporters of former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) gathered outside the Taipei District Court yesterday afternoon, insisting that Chen is innocent and dismissing his corruption trial as political persecution.
Shouting “A-bian [阿扁, Chen’s nickname] is innocent,” the supporters began to gather in front of the courthouse hours before the verdict was to be handed down at 4pm.
“Stop the political persecution,” one of the banners held up by protesters read, while others accused President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) of manipulating the judiciary and urged him to step down.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Chen supporters held yellow ribbons and yellow balloons bearing the slogans “A-bian is innocent” and “release A-bian.”
Besides Chen’s supporters, some of his opponents also showed up from time to time outside the courthouse, calling on the judge to give Chen a hefty sentence.
Several verbal and minor physical clashes broke out between the two sides, but police quickly separated the belligerents each time.
The police completely sealed off the section of Boai Road in front of the courthouse about an hour before the verdict and sentence were expected.
A police source said about 300 to 400 officers were deployed to maintain order.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) said he would accept neither a guilty nor a not-guilty verdict, because the trial was illegitimate.
“I actually wouldn’t be surprised if Chen gets lifetime imprisonment, because the trial is illegal and illegitimate,” he said before the verdict was announced. “During the trial, the defendant’s rights were disregarded, and it was clearly a case of political manipulation.”
He also urged the court to put an end to Chen’s detention of more than 250 days.
The demonstrators outside the court became very emotional upon learning the verdict, with many bursting into tears.
A woman started to repeatedly cry “A-bian is innocent” aloud and began hitting people around her with a small flag pole, until she passed out.
Others rushed toward the entrance of the courthouse but were stopped by the police. They then threw plastic bottles, ribbons, posters and banners over the police barricade. The situation calmed down soon, as many demonstrators decided to go to the detention center in Tucheng City (土城), Taipei County, where Chen is being held.
Chen’s office said the verdict was “unacceptable” and “illegal.”
“Although we expected such a heavy sentence, we cannot accept it, because the court violated procedural justice,” said Chiang Chih-ming (江志銘), secretary of Chen’s office, referring to the decision to replace the judge in the middle of the trial.
The office later held a press conference, where it accused the court of seeking to “exterminate the Chen family and the former president’s former aides” with the verdict.
Chen’s office spokesman Liu Dao (劉導) said Yu Wen (余文), a former secretary to Ma Ying-jeou during his stint as Taipei mayor, was sentenced to only one year in prison for inappropriate use of Ma Ying-jeou’s special mayoral allowance.
Chen’s office spokesman Liu Dao (劉導) also condemned the court for sentencing former Presidential Office director Lin Teh-hsun (林德訓) and former deputy secretary-general Ma Yung-cheng (馬永成), who were convicted of inappropriately reimbursing the former first family for personal expenses taken out of the president’s “state affairs” fund, to 16 years and 20 years respectively.
Liu said Yu Wen (余文), a former secretary to Ma Ying-jeou during his stint as Taipei mayor, was sentenced to only one year in prison for inappropriately use of Ma Ying-jeou’s special mayoral allowance.
“It is unbelievable that Ma [Yung-cheng] and Lin were given such different treatments because they had different bosses,” Liu said.
Liu said Presiding Judge Tsai Shou-hsun’s (蔡守訓) verdict was biased because of his hostility toward Chen Shui-bian.
“The verdict also marked the beginning of a new KMT autarchy. People who were concerned about the development of democracy in Taiwan should take note,” he said.
DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said the verdict was not convincing because of a flawed trial process. Tsai Shou-hsun, who was also the judge in Ma Ying-jeou’s embezzlement trial, seems to have employed double standards to the two similar cases, she said.
While Chen was sentenced to life in prison, Ma Ying-jeou was found not guilty, the DPP leader said.
“We regret to see the defects and the ruling. We will support former president Chen Shui-bian in his fight for his legal rights as he enters the next stage of legal proceedings,” she said.
However, Tsai said, Chen should be held responsible for some of his actions, which she said were not in line with the DPP’s standards.
DPP Legislator Tsai Trong-rong (蔡同榮), who was in court when the verdict was handed down, said the sentence is too heavy.
DPP Legislator Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲) said such a heavy sentence must be politically motivated.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus secretary-general Lu Hsueh-chang (呂學樟), said: “Chen Shui-bian deserves it. I believe the public will welcome the verdict.”
Lu said Chen should plead guilty and stop using his wife as an excuse.
When asked if he thought the court should consider allowing the former first lady to serve her term at home by wearing electronic foot shackles, Lu said this would be good from a humanitarian perspective.
Meanwhile, Presidential Office Spokesman Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) said the office respected the ruling and would refrain from commenting on individual cases.
KMT headquarters also declined to comment on the ruling.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY FLORA WANG
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