Former Taiwan President Chen sentenced to 11 years for corruption

[News_Editor]

Former Taiwan President Chen sentenced to 11 years for corruption

2010-11-12 01:19:18 GMT+7 (ICT)

TAIPEI, TAIWAN (BNO NEWS) -- Former Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian on Thursday was sentenced to at least 11 years in prison by a Taiwan court in two separate corruption cases on charges of bribery during a controversial land purchase.

In September 2009, the Taipei District Court sentenced Chen, 59, President of the Republic of China from 2000 to 2008, and his wife, Wu Shu-chen, to life imprisonment on corruption charges stemming to embezzlement and money laundering operations committed during his time in power.

However, a second trial in June reduced their penalties to 20 years in jail.

According to court files, the former president and his wife accepted bribes of up to NT$300 million ($10 million) to influence a government-run science part to rent and later purchase land in Taoyuan County, which belonged to Taiwan Cement Corp chairman Leslie Koo, whose company was dealing with financial difficulties.

On Thursday, the final trial was carried out in which Shu-chen and Chen were sentenced to 11 years. In addition, they were each fined with NT$150 million ($5 million). During the same ruling, the couple were sentenced to an additional eight years for another bribery case with former Taipei Financial Center Corp chairwoman.

Furthermore, Shu-chen received a seven-month prison term for money laundering.

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