TAIPEI: The "Supreme Court" rejected yesterday an appeal by former "President" Chen Shui-bian to have the court reverse a Taiwan High Court ruling last month that he should remain in custody for another two months.

Chen filed the appeal after a three-judge panel of the high court ruled December 17 that he be kept behind bars for another two months, on the grounds that he might abscond if released from detention.

After a thorough review, the "Supreme Court" upheld the high court ruling and turned down Chen's appeal.

According to the high court ruling, Chen should be detained for another two months from December 24-February 23. The next hearing on whether he should be detained for a longer period may be held before the February 13-21 Lunar New Year holiday.

The judges said in their ruling that, with Chen's influence and the assets stashed overseas by his family, he could live a comfortable life if he were to run away to a foreign country to evade the severe sentence he could face.

Both Chen and his wife Wu Shu-jen were sentenced September 11 by the Taipei District Court to life in prison, in addition to receiving fines of NT$200 million ($6.13 million) and NT$300 million, respectively, on several counts of corruption, including embezzling from a "presidential" fund for "state" affairs, taking bribes from local businessmen and money laundering.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 01/15/2010 page2)