Chen subjected to stinging attack in prosecution's closing statement

The lead prosecutor delivered a blistering attack on Chen Shui-bian in the final day of hearings into alleged corruption yesterday, accusing Taiwan's former president of acting shamefully and showing 'no sense of conscience'.

Taipei district prosecutor Lin Yi-chun said the corruption scandal involving Chen had attracted international headlines and destroyed his name.

'During his eight years in office, the name Chen Shui-bian became an expletive - one woman was even sued for accusing someone of acting like Chen Shui-bian,' Ms Lin said. 'He might be able to take full advantage of ordinary people, but he could never deceive heaven.'

Ms Lin presented evidence she said proved that Chen had been involved in embezzlement, taking bribes, money-laundering and influence-peddling.

Chen was charged along with his wife, Wu Shu-chen, in mid-December of embezzling NT$104 million (HK$24.5 million) in special state funds, taking NT$400 million in bribes, and other offences between 2000 and last year.

Chen remained silent when Ms Lin delivered the charges, but busily took notes. His public attorneys, Tang Chen-chi and Tseng Te-rong, insisted that Chen had nothing to do with any of the charges because his wife was the one taking care of the family money.