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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