Ex-Taiwan president jailed for corruption

Published on Friday 11 September 2009 22:07

A TAIWAN court has sentenced former president Chen Shui-bian to life in prison after convicting him on graft charges.

He came to power on promises to end decades of corruption and deepen the island's de facto independence.

The conviction, which will automatically be subject of an appeal, marks a watershed in Taiwan's turbulent political history, and is a crucial test for the island's evolving democracy.

Chen, 58, was charged with embezzling 1.88 million during his 2000-2008 presidency from a special presidential fund, receiving bribes worth at least 5.4 million in connection with a government land deal, laundering some of the money, and forging documents. His wife, Wu Shu-chen, was convicted of related graft offences, and sentenced to life in prison too.

As the verdict was announced, supporters demonstrated outside the Taipei court.

Most Taiwanese believe that Chen is guilty of at least some of the charges, but critics claim the severity of his sentence reflects his pro-independence views and his role in ending the 50-year monopoly on power of the Nationalists.