The Special Investigation Division (SID) of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office yesterday filed an appeal with the Supreme Court against a verdict late last month that cleared former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) of skimming money from a special state affairs fund during his presidency.
The Taiwan High Court ruled on Aug. 26 in its first retrial of Chen’s case that he was not guilty of the special state affairs fund embezzlement charges, although he was given an extra 20-month prison term for his role in using fraudulent receipts to obtain reimbursements for spending from the special fund.
After receiving the court verdict on the retrial on Sept. 8, the Taiwan High Prosecutors’ Office discussed the ruling with the SID and decided to file an appeal.
The two offices said they made the decision on the grounds that they believed the law had been wrongly applied in the judgement and the judges did not provide an adequate explanation for the ruling.
Meanwhile, SID spokesman Chen Hung-ta (陳宏達) said that prosecutors had filed an additional appeal yesterday against the overturning of an embezzlement case against two former Chen administration officials.
Former secretary-general of the National Security Bureau Chiou I-jen (邱義仁) and former deputy minister of foreign affairs Michael Kau (高英茂) were acquitted on Aug. 30 of charges that they embezzled secret diplomatic funds while in office.
Chen Hung-ta said both Chiou and Kau failed to explain details relating to the handling of the funds by persons who allegedly helped Taiwan in diplomatic affairs.
Prosecutors believe that statements made by the defendants and witnesses contained multiple contradictions and so had decided to appeal the case, Chen Hung-ta added.
Additional reporting by CNA
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