Taiwan News
Date: 2016-04-25
By: Chia Lee, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Amid louder calls for a pardon for former President Chen Shui-bian, President Ma Ying-jeou said Monday that given a number of cases against Chen are still pending, the pardon will not be considered.

Amid louder calls for a pardon for former President Chen Shui-bian, President Ma Ying-jeou said Monday that given a number of cases against Chen are still pending, the pardon will not be considered at this moment.
The former president was sentenced to 20 years in jail for corruption in 2008 but has been out of jail on medical parole since January 2015.

A campaign calling for pardon of Chen began early this month, when the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) approved a motion urging Ma to grant special pardon to his predecessor before the end of his term. The motion was however rejected by the Presidential Office shortly after, on the grounds that several cases against Chen are still ongoing.

On April 22, Taiwan’s High Court passed a motion suspending Chen’s participation in future court hearings due to his deteriorated health condition. It was Chen’s fourth successful appeal for a suspension. A session will be held by the High Court on May 13 to continue the hearing of the allegations against Chen and other defendants.     [FULL  STORY]