Taiwan ex-leader wins compensation suit
Taiwan’s jailed ex-leader Chen Shui-bian on Thursday scored a legal victory when a district court rejected a compensation claim against him in a land purchase deal.
The Hsinchu Science Park administration alleged that it suffered a loss of Tw$400 million ($13 million), which Chen took as a commission to facilitate a land purchase from a businessperson.
However, the Taipei district court rejected the claim, saying the plaintiff “could not prove of any loss incurred” because of Chen’s involvement, the verdict said.
The verdict is the latest in a string of court victories for the ex-leader, who is currently serving a prison term of 17 years and six months on two bribery convictions, with more trials pending on other charges.
Taiwan's jailed ex-leader Chen Shui-bian (right) leaves his mother and son Chen Chih-chung behind as he goes back to jail after attending a memorial ceremony for his mother-in-law in southern Taiwan on January 6. The jailed ex-leader on Thursday scored a legal victory when a district court rejected a compensation claim against him in a land purchase deal. (AFP)
Last year, Chen was acquitted of misusing diplomatic funds during official overseas trips he made while in office between 2000 and 2008. In 2010, he was cleared of taking bribes in connection with two major bank mergers.
Chen and family members have been accused in a complex network of laundering millions of US dollars by sending political donations and secret diplomatic funds abroad, and taking kickbacks on government contracts.
Chen insists that the legal action against him is a vendetta carried out by Taiwan’s current Beijing-friendly government in retaliation for his pro-independence stance while in power.
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/taiwan-ex-leader-wins-compensation-suit-104034799.html
Category: Taiwan
