Taiwan court sentences Chen to life in prison

Taiwan's former president Chen Shui-bian has been
sentenced to life in prison, after being found guilty
of embezzlement, bribery and money laundering.　

A Taipei court ruled on Friday that Chen committed a serious
crime, even though he knows the law well as a former lawyer.
The court ordered him to pay penalties worth about 6 million
dollars, and stripped him of his citizenship.　

Chen was found guilty of embezzling 3 million dollars
from a special fund during his 8 years as president
through 2008, in a conspiracy with his wife and others.
He was also accused of receiving bribes worth at least
9 million dollars in connection with a government land deal.　

In addition, the former president is accused of laundering
some of the money totaling about 22 million dollars,
through overseas bank accounts.
The former president's wife was also sentenced to life
in prison and fined.
Chen has called the charges political persecution, and
declared his innocence. He did not attend Friday's
proceedings. He said he will appeal the verdict.　

Chen took power 9 years ago by ending the Nationalist Party's
half-a-century rule, and became a symbol of democratic
reform. But his presidency was clouded by corruption scandals.

2009/09/11 19:10(JST)