|
CHINA> Taiwan, HK, Macao
![]() |
|
Ex-Taiwan 'president' contests libel suit
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-07-22 07:26 TAIPEI: Taiwan's former "president" testified Monday that he was blameless in a libel case brought against him, but first had to pass angry opponents shouting at him outside the courthouse, including one man who reportedly kicked him. Chen Shui-bian entered the Taipei district court as police held back supporters and opponents. But CTI Cable News reported that an elderly man managed to kick the former leader before being taken away by two policemen. Although Chen ended his second and last term in May, many people still revile him for alleged corruption and pro-independence policies. The libel suit was filed by retired KMT Vice-Admiral Lei Hsueh-ming, who is demanding $66 million in compensation. In 2005, Chen said Lei and several other officials took a combined $20 million in bribes relating to a $2.7 billion deal to buy six French-made frigates. It turned into a scandal in 1993, on the death of a Taiwan navy captain who some said was killed because he was about to blow the whistle on colleagues who allegedly took kickbacks. After taking office in 2000, Chen said he would root out officials who received bribes in the frigate purchase. The vice-admiral was investigated but acquitted due to lack of evidence. Only one junior official has so far been convicted. Leaving the courthouse, Chen said he feared the libel suit would divert attention and hamper the judicial pursuit of the corruption probe. Officials are believed to have taken bribes because they unaccountably purchased the French frigates. "The kickbacks amounted to $500 million in total, and more senior officials must have been implicated," Chen said. Agencies-China Daily |
页游| 耿马| 奎屯市| 昌平区| 秦皇岛市| 通化县| 富裕县| 合水县| 德庆县| 三明市| 河东区| 涟源市| 报价| 灵川县| 泗洪县| 马关县| 阜宁县| 兴文县| 清水河县| 新营市| 肥城市| 台东市| 密山市| 浏阳市| 长阳| 宁化县| 保靖县| 和政县| 敦化市| 炉霍县| 涿鹿县| 灌南县| 三门峡市| 仲巴县| 江都市| 广州市| 夹江县| 镇安县| 嘉义县| 北票市| 伊春市|