The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday said it would ask the Council of Grand Justices to rule on the constitutionality of some aspects of former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) trial.
The DPP and some observers have cited several points in the case as possible violations of Chen’s legal rights. One of the most controversial points has been Chen’s detention for more than 250 days during the investigation and trial.
“We hope that the grand justices will make a ruling as soon as possible on several flaws and controversies concerning legal procedure,” DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) told a news conference after the party’s Central Standing Committee meeting yesterday.
“The Council of Grand Justices’ decision will have an impact on the legitimacy of the ruling in the first [trial]” and clarify controversial points that could arise in similar cases in the future, Tsai said.
The DPP called for a reform of the nation’s detention system and urged the court to release Chen so that he could prepare his appeal.
Separately, one of Chen’s court-appointed attorneys yesterday said he would discuss with Chen the district court’s latest decision to reject his request for release on bail. Chen has been behind bars since Dec. 30 at the Taipei Detention Center.
On Friday, the Taipei District Court found Chen, his wife Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) and 11 co-defendants guilty. The former first couple, convicted on charges including corruption and money laundering, received life sentences and a total of NT$500 million in fines.
Chen asked his attorneys to file a motion before Friday’s ruling to release him from detention so that he could prepare his appeal.
Attorney Tseng Te-rong (曾德榮) said he received the district court’s rejection on Tuesday evening and would scrutinize the court’s reasoning.
Presiding Judge Tsai Shou-hsun (蔡守訓) said in his ruling that Chen should remain in detention for fear that he could try to flee the country, among other reasons.
Tseng said he had yet to discuss the decision with Chen to decide whether to appeal. The more urgent task at hand is to prepare paperwork to file an appeal of Friday’s ruling, he said.
The deadline to file the appeal is Sept. 24.
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