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Former Taiwan leader Chen faces two new charges

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-20 14:10

TAIPEI -- Former Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian faced two new charges at a Taipei court which began three days of pretrial proceedings on corruption charges on Monday.

The two additional charges were blackmailing and seeking profit on projects that he was not in charge of. The most serious term he could face if convicted is life in prison.

Former Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian leaves for the Taiwan Taipei district court from the Tucheng Dentention Centre in Taipei County January 19, 2009. Chen appeared in court on Monday for a pretrial hearing on corruption, forgery and money laundering charges. [Agencies]

The court had postponed another hearing set for Wednesday to February 24, as lawyers needed more time to prepare.

Chen rejected the charges, saying the court had degraded him into a rascal by the charge of blackmail.

The proceeding began at 9:30 am local time (0130GMT) at the Taipei District Court and ended at around 2 pm. Later the court summoned two of Chen's friends, who both confessed to money laundering and bribery charges in court.

Chen and his wife Wu Shu-chen were charged with embezzling 104 million New Taiwan dollars (US$3.15 million) in public funds and accepting bribes of about US$9 million in a land purchase deal.

Chen is being detained in a Taipei jail.

The three-day process will set the agenda for the trial, which is scheduled for February.

Chen was elected to the post of Taiwan leader eight years ago and kicked out by public vote in May last year.

He has been in custody since November 12.

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