Former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) lawyers yesterday confirmed that he has been summoned to appear at the High Court on May 13, as the court reopens a trial into corruption charges against Chen over alleged misuse of the state affairs fund.
The news was revealed by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Tsai Yi-yu (蔡易餘), who claimed that President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) was behind the court’s decision to summon Chen.
The move comes at “a sensitive time when there are renewed calls by some in the pan-green camp for the former president to be pardoned,” Tsai wrote on Facebook. “The instruction came from the petty, narrow-minded Ma.”
Photo: Chang Chung-yi, Taipei Times
“They had to schedule this hearing for just before May 20,” he added, referring to the date when Ma’s presidential term expires and president-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) assumes office.
“Has the Ministry of Justice done anything useful? What they are good at is bullying Chen,” Tsai Yi-yu wrote.
Chen’s attorney Cheng Wen-lung (鄭文龍) confirmed that the summons had been received at Chen’s residence on Friday evening.
The summons requires Chen to appear at the High Court in Taipei on May 13 9:30am, Cheng said.
“This is quite strange. For the four major court cases involving Chen, judicial proceedings have been shelved for the past one or two years. Why did they reopen the trial at this time?” Cheng asked.
The High Court summons concerns allegations concerning Chen’s discretionary use of a state affairs fund during his eight-year term as president, Cheng said, for which Chen was found guilty and given a life sentence in the court’s first ruling.
The verdict was overturned in the second ruling and Chen was found not guilty, Cheng said, adding that on appeal to the Supreme Court, the case was sent back for retrial.
“The cases against Chen all seem to be politically motivated. Suddenly at this time, they reopen the trial, so people are bound to think there is a political reason,” Cheng said.
“I do not believe Chen is physically well enough to appear in court, but we have to check with his family to verify whether they have received the court’s notification and let them make the decision,” Cheng added.
Chen was released from prison on medical parole on Jan. 5 last year, after serving six years for a graft conviction related to his presidency.
After his second term ended in 2008, Chen was sentenced to life in prison in 2009 for money laundering and bribery — a term reduced to 20 years after appeals.
He began serving his sentence on Nov. 11, 2010, but had been detained for about two years by then, while prosecutors were investigating and prosecuting the cases.
Chen said the charges against him are part of a political vendetta by the current Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government in retaliation for his eight years in power promoting Taiwanese independence.
Over the past week, the Kaohsiung City Council and Tainan City Council passed motions urging Ma to grant a pardon to Chen before May 20, which they said could facilitate rapprochement between the pan-blue and pan-green camps.
However, the Presidential Office on Friday issued a statement rejecting the call, saying that there are still ongoing criminal cases involving Chen.
Separately yesterday, in response to media queries over whether he would call on president-elect Tsai Ing-wen to pardon Chen should Ma refuse to back down on his stance, Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) said the issue would best be resolved before the presidential handover.
“With GDP forecast to head into negative growth this year, people are panicking. I am afraid that Tsai will have more pressing matters to attend to,” Ko said.
Ko, who is set to visit Shoushan Zoo in Kaohsiung today, said he would probably also vist Chen, who is living in the city.
“It is only natural for me to pay him a visit. I am the convener of his medical counseling team,” Ko said.
Additional reporting by Sean Lin and staff writer
The Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Wanda-Zhonghe Line is 81.7 percent complete, with public opening targeted for the end of 2027, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said today. Surrounding roads are to be open to the public by the end of next year, Hou said during an inspection of construction progress. The 9.5km line, featuring nine underground stations and one depot, is expected to connect Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station to Chukuang Station in New Taipei City’s Jhonghe District (中和). All 18 tunnels for the line are complete, while the main structures of the stations and depot are mostly finished, he
Taipei is to implement widespread road closures around Taipei 101 on Friday to make way for large crowds during the Double Ten National Day celebration, the Taipei Department of Transportation said. A four-minute fireworks display is to be launched from the skyscraper, along with a performance by 500 drones flying in formation above the nearby Nanshan A21 site, starting at 10pm. Vehicle restrictions would occur in phases, they said. From 5pm to 9pm, inner lanes of Songshou Road between Taipei City Hall and Taipei 101 are to be closed, with only the outer lanes remaining open. Between 9pm and 9:40pm, the section is
The first global hotel Keys Selection by the Michelin Guide includes four hotels in Taiwan, Michelin announced yesterday. All four received the “Michelin One Key,” indicating guests are to experience a “very special stay” at any of the locations as the establishments are “a true gem with personality. Service always goes the extra mile, and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.” Of the four hotels, three are located in Taipei and one in Taichung. In Taipei, the One Key accolades were awarded to the Capella Taipei, Kimpton Da An Taipei and Mandarin Oriental Taipei. Capella Taipei was described by
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday hosted a reception to celebrate Double Ten National Day. Conservative Canadian lawmaker Marc Dalton called Taiwan a “beacon of courage and resilience in the face of rising authoritarianism,” according to a post on the Taiwan in Vancouver Facebook page. Also in attendance were fellow conservative caucus members Tako Van Popta and Chak Au, who said that Taiwan plays an “indispensable role” in ensuring global peace, prosperity and stability due to its strategic position in the Indo-Pacific region, it said. Canadian lawmaker Michael Cooper also recorded a message wishing Taiwan a
RSS