Detained Taiwanese ex-president Chen on hunger strike, says lawyer
Posted: 13 November 2008 1431 hrs

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TAIPEI: Taiwan's former president Chen Shui-bian has not eaten since being detained over a corruption probe, in protest at what he insists is a politically-motivated investigation, his lawyer said Thursday.

Chen, whose pro-independence stance in office set him against Beijing, has repeatedly accused the island's China-friendly government of being behind the allegations of embezzlement, money laundering, taking bribes and forgery.

Chen had only drunk water since entering a detention centre early Wednesday and had not eaten a proper meal since late Tuesday, lawyer Cheng Wen-long said.

"He intends to stop eating in protest," Cheng told reporters after visiting the former leader, who he said was "in an okay condition now."

A court ordered Chen locked up Wednesday, capping 24 hours of high political drama that saw a defiant Chen led away in handcuffs, taken to hospital after saying he had been beaten by police, and then finally put behind bars.

Chen, the first former Taiwanese leader to be arrested, faces allegations of embezzling around NT$15 million (about US$450,000) while in office but has yet to be charged.

His lawyer said Chen was "willing to stay in the dark prison cell for the people... he said he can sacrifice his life for the 'Republic of Taiwan.'"

"Former president Chen stressed that his arrest is like 'sentencing without a trial,'" Cheng told reporters.

One pro-independence group threatened to sue prosecutors over Chen's detention, which it described as a breach of his human rights.

Hardcore Chen supporters were also planning to mount protests outside the detention centre where he is being held on Saturday.

Chen said on Tuesday that he was being victimised by the China-friendly Kuomintang, which succeeded him after eight years in office, because he was the "biggest stone" blocking the island's reunification with the mainland.

Beijing regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to invade if it moves towards independence.

Chen's successor, President Ma Ying-jeou, has worked quickly to improve ties with China since taking office, opening new talks and airline connections between the mainland and Taiwan, which split in 1949 after a civil war.

Chen has admitted submitting falsified expense forms while in office but said the money was used for "secret diplomatic missions" and not for his personal benefit.

Other members of his family have also been implicated in alleged corruption, among them Chen's son-in-law, who on Thursday had his seven-year jail term for insider trading upheld by Taiwan's High Court.

Chao Chien-ming was also fined NT$30 million (US$91,500) for making illegal profits of more than NT$100 million, a court spokesman said.

In a separate money-laundering case, prosecutors have alleged that US$21 million was sent to Swiss bank accounts belonging to Chen's daughter-in-law in 2007. The funds have since been frozen.

Chen has admitted his wife wired US$20 million abroad from past campaign funds but has denied laundering money.

- AFP/yb