Taiwan court extends former President`s detention

Taiwan`s High Court ruled on Friday that former President Chen Shui-bian should be held in custody for another two months while he appeals a 20-year jail term for graft.

Taipei: Taiwan`s High Court ruled on Friday
that former President Chen Shui-bian should be held in custody
for another two months while he appeals a 20-year jail term
for graft.

"Chen is more familiar with possible routes to escape as
a former president... he is still a flight risk," it said in a
statement.
In a surprise move, the court last week cut Chen`s life
sentence to 20 years in jail after concluding that he had
embezzled less money than previously assumed.

Chen, who has been locked up for more than 500 days, has
repeatedly vowed that he would not flee the island if set free
while his appeal case is pending.

The ex-leader was convicted last year at the Taipei
district court of embezzling state funds, laundering money,
accepting bribes and committing forgery.
The opposition Democratic Progressive Party, which Chen
once led, has urged the government to free him immediately.

Chen has blasted his trial as a vendetta carried out by
the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang administration in retaliation
for his pro-independence stance during his 2000-2008 term.

PTI

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