TAIPEI: Taiwan's jailed former leader Chen Shui-bian has lost his latest bid to be freed on bail while he appeals a life sentence for corruption, his aide said yesterday.
The former Taiwan leader was disappointed by the decision of the three judges, said Chiang Chih-ming, an aide to Chen, at Taipei's district court.
In its decision rejecting the application, the court said Chen, who has been in custody since last year, posed a flight risk and could collude with other suspects in his wide-ranging graft case or destroy evidence if freed on bail. The court said it was necessary to keep Chen in custody "in order to ensure the smooth process of the trial".
The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which Chen once led, has urged the government to free him immediately.
Chen was first detained in November before he was formally charged with corruption. He was freed on bail for two weeks in December until the court replaced the judges in his case. The new judges ordered that Chen be detained.
The former leader received a life sentence last week, which he has denounced as "invalid".
Chen was convicted of taking bribes, embezzling state funds and forging documents, among other crimes. His wheelchair-bound wife, Wu Shu-chen, was also given a life term on graft charges.
Under the laws of Taiwan, a life sentence is automatically appealed. But Chen on Monday also filed an appeal against his corruption conviction, Chiang said.
