{"id":36407,"date":"2009-03-26T21:54:48","date_gmt":"2009-03-27T04:54:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chinadigitaltimes.net\/?p=36407"},"modified":"2009-03-26T21:58:12","modified_gmt":"2009-03-27T04:58:12","slug":"taiwan%e2%80%99s-former-president-goes-on-trial-for-corruption","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chinadigitaltimes.net\/2009\/03\/taiwan%e2%80%99s-former-president-goes-on-trial-for-corruption\/","title":{"rendered":"Taiwan\u2019s Former President Goes on Trial for Corruption"},"content":{"rendered":"
The trial for Taiwan’s former president Chen Shui-bian began on Thursday. Chen is under investigation for corruption charges. From Annie Huang of the Associated Press<\/strong><\/a>:<\/p>\n Taiwan’s defiant former president went on trial on corruption charges Thursday after angrily proclaiming that the new government is persecuting him to curry favor with rival China.<\/p>\n Chen Shui-bian, 58, faces possible life imprisonment if convicted on charges of embezzling 104 million New Taiwan dollars ($3.12 million) from a special presidential fund, receiving bribes worth at least $9 million in connection with a government land deal and laundering part of the funds by wiring the money to Swiss bank accounts.<\/p>\n He has repeatedly denied the charges, saying the administration of President Ma Ying-jeou is out to get him for his anti-China views.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n