Taiwan's indicted ex-leader released on bail
Posted: 13 December 2008 0228 hrs

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TAIPEI - Taiwan's pro-independence former president Chen Shui-bian was released on bail early Saturday, some ten hours after he was indicted for corruption.

"I want to thank my lawyers, members of the Democratic Progressive Party and my supporters who have given me huge encouragement," Chen told reporters.

"I am grateful to those who cared for, supported and looked after me so I could get through the hardest and loneliest 32 days of my life in prison," he said.

The former president, who appeared in the court's lobby after changing into a dark suit, also thanked the judges and promised to honour the terms of his release.

He shook hands briefly with some of the 20 supporters who had gathered outside the court house -- despite the antisocial hour -- before heading home.

A panel of three judges said Chen could leave custody on condition that he appears at future court hearings and does not leave the country nor change his address, said an official at the Taipei district court.

The ex-leader was not required to provide any surety for the bail, the official added.

Chen's lawyer Cheng Wen-long welcomed the decision to grant bail, saying it would help increase judicial credibility.

"This is a step forward for Taiwan's judicial system. It will also ease doubt on prosecutors forcing confessions by detaining" Chen, he said.

The ex-leader, locked up since November 12, was indicted on charges of embezzling government funds and laundering money along with 13 others, including his wife, son and daughter-in-law.

Legal experts say Chen, the island's first former leader to be indicted, could face life in prison if convicted.

Chen, who pledged to clean up Taiwanese politics when he was elected in 2000, left office in May after serving the maximum two four-year terms as president.

Prosecutors say the 58-year-old Chen, a lawyer by training, and his wife Wu Shu-chen embezzled about three million US dollars in public funds and, along with two other people, accepted a bribe of about 12 million US dollars on a land deal.

Their son Chen Chih-chung, daughter-in-law Huang Jui-ching and 10 others were indicted for corruption and money laundering in connection with the massive case, which has captivated Taiwan for months.

Chen, a former leader of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, has repeatedly accused the current China-friendly government of mounting a witch hunt against him.

- AFP /ls