Former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) sisters visited him yesterday in Taipei Detention Center, and said he remained confident about the legal fight to prove he is innocent of corruption charges.
Chen has been held at the center since Dec. 30, 2008, and the Taiwan High Court earlier this month extended his detention by another two months from Feb. 24.
Accompanied by the secretary of Chen’s office, Chiang Chih-ming (江志銘), Chen’s two sisters brought fruit and fish dishes for their brother.
“[Chen] is confident, and we will remain strong,” Chen’s sister Chen Shui-ching (陳秀金) said.
Chiang said the former president remained calm about the High Court’s decision to extend his detention, and spent the Lunar New Year holidays reading the book Michael Jackson Conspiracy.
Meanwhile, Chen’s son Chen Chih-chung (陳致中) showed up at Kaohsiung’s Sanfeng Temple yesterday, accompanied by the Democratic Progressive Party’s Kaohsiung branch director, Chen Cheng-wen (陳政聞).
Chen Shui-ching would not comment on rumors that he intends to run in the Kaohsiung city councilor elections in December and said he was visiting the temple to pray for his father and family.
Both Chen Shui-bian and his wife, Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍), were sentenced to life in prison on Sept. 11 last year by the Taipei District Court and fined NT$200 million (US$6.13 million) and NT$300 million respectively on several counts of corruption, including embezzling money from a discretionary state affairs fund and taking bribes from local businessmen.
The High Court has extended the former presdient’s detention on three occasions. The first was from Oct. 24. to Dec. 24 last year, and the second was from Dec. 24 to Feb. 24.
The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) is to tighten rules for candidates running for public office, requiring them to declare that they do not hold a Chinese household registration or passport, and that they possess no other foreign citizenship. The requirement was set out in a draft amendment to the Enforcement Rules of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法 ) released by the ministry on Thursday. Under the proposal, candidates would need to make the declaration when submitting their registration forms, which would be published in the official election bulletin. The move follows the removal of several elected officials who were
The Republic of China (ROC) is celebrating its 114th Double Ten National Day today, featuring military parades and a variety of performances and speeches in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei. The Taiwan Taiko Association opened the celebrations with a 100-drummer performance, including young percussionists. As per tradition, an air force Mirage 2000 fighter jet flew over the Presidential Office as a part of the performance. The Honor Guards of the ROC and its marching band also heralded in a military parade. Students from Taichung's Shin Min High School then followed with a colorful performance using floral imagery to represent Taiwan's alternate name
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