Former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) son Chen Chih-chung (陳致中) and daughter-in-law Huang Jui-ching (黃睿靚) yesterday said in court that they hoped the High Court would reduce their prison sentences and fines.
Taiwan High Court yesterday summoned the couple for a pre-trial hearing. The two maintained their stance of confessing to the charges against them in hopes of attaining leniency. The case is currently in its second review.
On Sept. 11, Chen Chih-chung, convicted in the first instance by the Taipei District Court of money laundering, was sentenced to two years and six months, as well as a fine of NT$150 million (US$4.6 million), for helping his parents wire money to overseas bank accounts.
Chen Chih-chung’s wife was sentenced to one year and eight months and fined NT$150 million on money laundering charges.
During the hearing, Chen Chih-chung said although he still pled guilty to the charges, he believed the prison sentence and fines handed down by the Taipei District Court were too heavy.
Chen Chih-chung’s and Huang’s attorney Yeh Ta-hui (葉大慧) spoke on behalf of the couple, saying they were unable to afford the fines, as their overseas funds have been frozen by Swiss authorities. He said he hoped the High Court would consider a lighter sentence for the two since their crimes were committed because of immediate family members.
Some of former first lady Wu Shu-jen’s (吳淑珍) family members who had been involved in the money laundering case also pleaded guilty and asked for more lenient sentences.
Wu’s brother Wu Ching-mao (吳景茂) told the court he hoped the High Court would reduce by half the fines handed down to him and his wife.
Wu Ching-mao and his wife, Chen Chun-ying (陳俊英), who pleaded guilty to helping the former first lady launder money through overseas accounts, were each sentenced to two years in prison, five years’ probation and a fine of NT$3 million.
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