Decision to release Chen withdrawn again

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-28 10:45

TAIPEI -- Taiwan's High Court withdrew a lower court's decision for the second time early on Sunday to release the island's former leader Chen Shui-bian after indictment against him on corruption charges.

Former Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian (C) speaks to reporters as he leaves after being released without bail at a district court in Taipei December 18, 2008. [Agencies]

The High Court made the ruling at 1:40 am Sunday (1740 GMT Saturday) following an overnight debate on the second appeal by prosecutors who sought to put Chen back in custody.

"The High Court is asking the Taipei District Court to review its previous ruling to release Chen," High Court spokesman Wen Yao-yuan said.

"Chen Shui-bian is suspected of having committed serious crimes which carry a minimum five-year sentence to the death penalty," Wen told reporters.

After his release, Chen could be involved in the runaway, testimony collusion and interference with the witnesses and other defendants, according to the High Court.

The Taipei District Court may hold a hearing on the High Court's request later Sunday at the earliest, to decide on whether to detain Chen again.

The Taipei district court decided on December 25, for the second time after the High Court's withdrawal on December 17 of its first decision, to release Chen without bail on his own recognizance but banned him from leaving the island.

The prosecutors made the second appeal on Thursday and stated that they hoped this time the High Court could make a decision by itself, instead of sending the case back to the district court.

The Taipei district court would assign the case to Tsai Shou-hsum, also presiding judge of the graft case of Chen's wife.

Chen was first indicted by the prosecutors on December 12 for money laundering and taking bribes during his eight years in office, which ended in May.

He had been in custody for investigation since November 12.

Chen and his wife were alleged to have embezzled 104 million New Taiwan dollars (US$3.15 million) in public funds and accepted bribes of about US$9 million in a land purchase deal.

His wife was also alleged to have taken a kickback of US$2.7 million from a construction project, according to prosecutors.

Their son, daughter-in-law and 10 others were also said to have assisted in concealing the crime and remitting the money to overseas bank accounts.

Taiwan prosecutors have said earlier that they were seeking "the severest punishment" for Chen.

They also recommended a heavy sentence for his wife for "using her status to interfere in politics and rake in money and undermining the system."