Jailed Taiwan ex-leader claims innocence in eulogy to mother-in-law

Jan 6, 2012, 7:52 GMT

Taipei - Taiwan's former president Chen Shui-bian reiterated his innocence Friday in a televised speech during a memorial ceremony for his mother-in-law, which he attended on day release from prison.

He arrived at the funeral parlour in the southern city of Tainan under heavy police escort, and proceeded to crawl to the altar in accordance with Taiwanese tradition.

He then gave a 20-minute eulogy accompanied by funeral music in front of the altar, which bore a photo Wu Wang-hsia, who died aged 85 last week. The speech was broadcast on national television.

He berated himself as 'the most un-filial son-in-law' for not coming until seven days after her death.

He then turned to the topic of his political career, and his convictions for corruption and money laundering.

Chen assured his late mother-in-law that he was innocent, and pointed out that he took a 50-per-cent pay cut while in office. He also mentioned the high-speed rail and road infrastructure he had built during his mandate.

Afterwards, he bid a tearful farewell to his wife and mother and returned to the van for the journey back to his Taipei prison, while a crowd of at least 300 people gathered outside the parlour chanted their support.

Chen, who represented the Democratic Progressive Party, was president from 2000-2008. He was convicted of corruption and money laundering on leaving office, and is serving a 17-and-a-half-year prison sentence.

Authorities earlier this week denied him leave to attend his mother-in-law's funeral scheduled for Tuesday, citing the possibility of large crowds and the threat to public safety. But as a concession, they allowed him to attend Friday's ceremony without handcuffs.