Ex-Taiwan President Indicted

ZHANG:
Today's top story... former Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian was indicted in Taipei today. The charges relate to a series of corruption-related scandals involving the former president and his family members.

STORY:
This is the first time a former Taiwanese president has faced criminal prosecution.

And these charges of graft, forgery and money laundering are Chens first since his arrest in early November.

Prosecutors are calling for the heaviest possible sentence for the ex-president.

[Chen Yun-nan, Prosecutors Office]:
"In his two terms serving as the president of the Republic of China, he vowed at the inauguration to abide by the constitution, be loyal to his duties, improve public welfare, protect the country as people have entrusted him to do. If disobeyed, he must accept the heaviest punishment. As he violated the law, there is no reason to pardon him. (The prosecutor's office is) asking the court for the strictest punishment."

Prosecutors have also charged Chen's wife, son, daughter in-law and 11 other family members and former aides.

His wife, Wu Shu-chen, has already missed 17 of her court appearances citing ill health. She was indicted on corruption charges in November 2006.

Chen denies any wrongdoing and has described the probe as a political plot.

Those still loyal to him have protested in the streets, calling him innocent.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Ntd
• NTDTV
• news
• Ex-Taiwan
• President
• Indicted
• Taipei
• corruption
• scandals
• criminal
• prosecution
• forgery
• public
• welfare

[Da1wanlan]

1 down.. the rest of TW parliament to go!

[freewayrobber]

he's INNOCENT. WINK WINK