Chen Chi-li (陳啟禮), the 58-year-old one-time Bamboo Union gang boss, was charged in a Cambodian court yesterday afternoon with forming an illegal armed group and illegal possession of weapons.
Two associates, a Taiwanese surnamed Mong and a Chinese named Kong, faced the same charges. Another Taiwanese national, surnamed Chao was released from custody without charge.
Deputy court prosecutor Ngeth Sarath told the Taipei Times that the three men would be charged under article 36 of Cambodia's criminal code, "Illegal armed force and gangs" and article 54, "Illegal possession of guns," which carry prison sentences of a minimum of 15 years and six months to three years respectively.
PHOTO: LIU SHAO-HUA, TAIPEI TIMES
"We have formally charged them and they will be remanded in custody for four to six months pending further investigation," said Sarath.
Yesterday's hearing lasted two hours. The prosecutors displayed 20 weapons on the floor of the courtroom which had beenconfiscated from Chen's house last Saturday.
However, the prosecutor admitted that his office indicted Chen for forming an illegal armed group, without the evidence to back up the charge, so far.
"We don't have evidence yet. We need more time to investigate, " Sarath said.
Chen protested his innocence as he left the courtroom. "The only legitimate charge is perhaps possession of guns. But they've foisted a false charge of illegally forming an armed gang on me," Chen told the Taipei Times.
Asked about extradition to Taiwan, he said, "We [the two Taiwan nationals] don't want to be sent back to Taiwan. Taiwan will stage a show trial for me."
There are no formal diplomatic relations or extradition agreements between Cambodia and Taiwan.
Some Cambodian officials, who declined to be named, said Chen's case was complicated and that its outcome "depends on who dares to handle it."
Chen and the two other accused were brought to the court under heavy military security from the military police headquarters where they have been held in custody for the previous four days.
Chen was arrested on Saturday in a raid on his Phnom Penh house. Military police confiscated several weapons from his home, including four AK-47 assault rifles, 16 other automatic weapons, a grenade launcher and more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition. The police also seized US$4,000 in cash, several passports including diplomatic, foreign and Cambodian and two vehicles.
On Sunday, police took Chen and Mong back to Chen's house and confiscated more items, including a TV, a computer, a photocopier, telephones, a cabinet and a collection of documents. The items were then taken to military police headquarters for further investigation.
Chen came to Cambodia four years ago and has enjoyed good relations with high-ranking government officials. This is the first time he has run into legal difficulties in Cambodia.
Chen, who uses the Cambodian name Chen Ly, is a former advisor to Chea Sim, chairman of the Senate and of the ruling Cambodian People's Party. He has also had the prestigious title "Okhna" (The Prince) conferred on him by the government -- a privilege carrying the rank of a cabinet minister without portfolio and reserved for important businessmen who make outstanding contributions to the country.
Chen's eminence and prestige, however, did not prevent his arrest.
Officials said this was mainly because Chen criticized Cambodia's security after the murder of Lee Chim-shin (李志鑫), the head of the Taiwanese Business Association, and showed off the guns at his home to Taiwanese reporters.
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