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Chiu I-jen released on NT$500,000 bail

Former vice premier Chiou I-jen (邱義仁) was released on NT$500,000 (US$15,360) bail yesterday after almost two months in detention.

Chiou, who was taken into custody on Oct. 31, was summoned by the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office’s Special Investigation Panel (SIP) yesterday morning as prosecutors continued to investigate whether former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) embezzled state funds earmarked for diplomatic work.

SIP prosecutors filed a bail request for Chiou at 1:30pm. The Taipei District Court began to hear the case at 2:45pm and judges decided to release Chiou in just 15 minutes.

Chiou is barred from leaving the country.

Leaving the court at around 3:30pm, Chiou smiled at reporters but refused to make any comment. Later his lawyer, Hsieh Ying-ching (謝穎青), released a statement.

“I insist upon my innocence. Many unfair and false accusations have been made that have damaged my reputation, but I believe that the truth will come out in the end. I appreciate my lawyers and my friends’ belief in me, as well as their help and support,” the statement said.

Chiou was detained for allegedly embezzling US$500,000 in funds earmarked for a diplomatic project in 2004 during his term as the National Security Council secretary-general.

During their investigations into the former first family’s alleged money-laundering case, prosecutors discovered that Chiou asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for money for the “An-ya Project,” which channeled financial aid to Taiwan’s diplomatic allies. Chiou then received US$500,000 in traveler’s checks, several of which were later found to have been cashed at foreign casinos, even though the project concerned had been completed.

Meanwhile, the SIP said yesterday it was considering a second appeal on the district court’s decision to release the former president without bail.

Taipei District Court Presiding Judge Chou Chan-chun’s (周占春) decision to release Chen at around 10:30pm on Thursday night was the inspiration for prosecutors in considering a second appeal.

“I had to make the decision because prosecutors did not provide enough evidence to persuade me that the former president should be detained,” Chou said. “I hope the high court will make the decision if prosecutors appeal again, instead of kicking it back to the district court and asking us to rehear it.”

Approached for comment, SIP Spokesman Chen Yun-nan (陳雲南) said: “We will reconsider the need for a second appeal after we receive the verdict from the court.”

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said yesterday that the party respected the district court’s ruling on Chen Shui-bian’s release.

DPP Legislator Chiu Yi-ying (邱議瑩) said the judges had displayed courage in not yielding to pressure from the media and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators to keep Chen Shui-bian detained, adding she hoped his trial would start quickly.

DPP Legislator Lee Chun-yee (李俊毅), however, criticized the judge for asking the former president not to threaten witnesses involved in the case.

“This is an incredible assumption,” said Lee. “Former president Chen is not a rascal nor a gangster.”

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY RICH CHANG
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