Taiwan ex-president Chen Shui-bian begins serving prison time

Dec 2, 2010, 6:55 GMT

Taipei - Taiwan ex-president Chen Shui-bian, convicted on corruption charges, was transferred Thursday from a detention centre to the prison where he is to serve a 19-year sentence.

Chen, 60, was transferred by police convey from the Taipei Penitentiary to the Taipei Prison in Taoyuan County near the capital.

Hundreds of supporters, shouting his nickname, called 'Ah-bian Innocent!' outside the detention centre to see Chen off while more than 100 supporters gathered outside the prison.

Chen's son, Chen Chih-chung, visited the former presdient at the penitentiary Thursday before the transfer.

'My father told me that he will wait in darkness and serve jail term in humiliation,' Chen Chih-chung told reporters.

The president from 2000 to 2008 and his wife, Wu Shu-chen, were charged in 2008 with corruption in four cases and money laundering. They were given life sentences by the Taipei District Court in September 2009, and in June 2009, the High Court sentenced them to 20 years.

Last month, the Supreme Court reduced their sentences to 19 years.

Judicial authorities have yet to decide when Wu would start serving her jail term.

Chen Shui-bian, an advocate of Taiwan independence, has called his sentence 'persecution' by President Ma Ying-jeou, from the China-friendly Nationalist Party.

He compared himself to Nelson Mandela, the former South African president who was jailed for 27 years during South Africa's apartheid years. Chen Shui-bian has been detained since late 2008.

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