Editing Chen Shui-bian (section)

==Post-presidency==
{{Main|Chen Shui-bian corruption charges}}
[[File:總統會晤韓國前大統領金泳三.jpg|thumb|Chen (right) with former [[President of South Korea]] [[Kim Young-sam]] (2008)]]
Chen stepped down on 20 May 2008, the same day that [[Ma Ying-jeou]] took office as the new president of the Republic of China.<ref>Ralph Jennings, [http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2008/05/20/asia/OUKWD-UK-TAIWAN-PRESIDENT.php "Taiwan new leader takes office on China pledges"] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20121216085411/http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2008/05/20/asia/OUKWD-UK-TAIWAN-PRESIDENT.php |date=16 December 2012 }}, Reuters (''International Herald Tribune''), 20 May 2008.</ref> No longer bearing the title of president, Chen left the [[Presidential Office Building, Taipei|Presidential Office Building]], and his presidential [[Immunity from prosecution (international law)|immunity]] was removed. He was placed under restrictions, such as confinement to Taiwan, by prosecutors as a result of allegations of corruption and [[abuse of authority]], both of which he was later charged guilty of.{{Clarify|date=January 2015}}<!--unclear meaning--> One fraud case involved the handling of a special presidential fund used to pursue Taiwan's foreign diplomacy.

President [[Ma Ying-jeou]] declassified government documents which aided the investigation into Chen's usage of special government funds. Chen's lawyers responded by suing Ma, on 6 August 2008, alleging Ma's declassification of the documents that were initially classified by Chen to be "politically motivated". The documents consisted mainly of receipts and other records of special expenses, which according to Ma's chief aide assured pose no danger to the country's interests once declassified.<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080808/wl_asia_afp/taiwanpoliticscorruptionchen_080808062642 Taiwan leader sued for declassifying documents in graft probe]{{dead link|date=August 2024}}.  AFP, Yahoo! News</ref>

After two years of investigation, it was found that Chen Shui-bian received millions from the owners of the [[Taiwan Cement|TCC Company]] after the government bought the [[Longtan District, Taoyuan|Longtan]] land, which was then integrated into the Science Park project.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W4RCDwAAQBAJ&q=Chen+Shui-bian+suicide&pg=PA556|title=The Revival of China （with Pictures）|last=Min|first=M. A. O.|date=27 December 2017|publisher=Mao Min|language=en|access-date=16 October 2020|archive-date=13 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413154149/https://books.google.com/books?id=W4RCDwAAQBAJ&q=Chen+Shui-bian+suicide&pg=PA556|url-status=live}}</ref> There were several other instances of corruption, which became the subject of a graft trial that also included the former president's wife and 11 other co-defendants. The trial revealed that Chen and his wife amassed a total of NT$800 million and some were laundered overseas.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/09/12/2003453376|title=Chen Shui-bian gets life|website=Taipei Times|date=12 September 2009|access-date=20 August 2018|archive-date=21 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821093727/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/09/12/2003453376|url-status=live}}</ref> The former president was found guilty by the Taipei District Courts of violating Punishment of Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例), Money Laundering Control Act (洗錢防制法), and Criminal Code (刑法).<ref name=":0" />

On 11 September 2009, Chen received a [[life imprisonment|life sentence]] and was fined [[NT$]]200&nbsp;million<ref name="bloomberg.com">Weiyi Lim, Janet Ong [https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=amY.tLT6_t.I "Taiwan Ex-President Chen Sentenced to Life for Graft"], [[Bloomberg News]] 11 September 2009</ref> (US$6.13&nbsp;million) for embezzlement, bribery and money laundering involving a total of US$15&nbsp;million (NT$490&nbsp;million) in funds while in office from 2000 to 2008.<ref name="Taiwan ex-leader jailed for life">{{Cite news |date=2009-09-11 |title=Taiwan ex-leader jailed for life |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8250099.stm |access-date=2025-05-27 |language=en-GB}}</ref> Supporters of Chen contended that the prosecution was politically motivated.<ref name="washingtonpost.com">[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/11/AR2009091100499_2.html]{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/12/AR2008111202626.html |title=Taiwan's Chen Won't Appeal His Detention |website=Washingtonpost.com |access-date=7 January 2017 |archive-date=19 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019215636/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/12/AR2008111202626.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Chen is the first ROC president to receive a prison sentence.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/09/12/2003453376 |title=Chen Shui-bian gets life |newspaper=Taipei Times |date=31 December 2016 |access-date=7 January 2017 |archive-date=20 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420190126/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/09/12/2003453376 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 8 June 2010, the Taipei District Court found Chen not guilty of embezzling diplomatic funds.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2010/new/jun/9/today-p5.htm | title = 外交零用金案 扁一審無罪 | date = 9 June 2010 | work = [[Liberty Times]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100612174824/http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2010/new/jun/9/today-p5.htm | archive-date = 12 June 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1281053&lang=eng_news&cate_img=logo_taiwan&cate_rss=TAIWAN_eng | title = Taiwan court finds ex-President Chen Shui-bian not guilty of misusing diplomacy funds – No evidence of Chen wiring state funds to son: Court | date = 8 June 2010 | work = Taiwan News | access-date = 8 June 2010 | archive-date = 4 September 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150904060007/http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1281053&lang=eng_news&cate_img=logo_taiwan&cate_rss=TAIWAN_eng | url-status = dead }}</ref> On 11 June 2010, the High Court decided to reduce Chen's life sentence to 20 years.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127755223 | title = Court Cuts Former Taiwan President's Sentence | date = 11 June 2010 | publisher = National Public Radio (Source: The Associated Press }}{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }})</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=12 June 2010 |title=國務費貪污金額二審從寬認定／扁珍改判20年--扁堅持無罪將上訴 |trans-title=State Affairs Fund corruption amount leniently determined in second trial / Chen Shui-bian and Wu Shu-chen's sentence changed to 20 years - Chen insists on innocence and will appeal. |url=http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2010/new/jun/12/today-t1.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614233409/http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2010/new/jun/12/today-t1.htm |archive-date=14 June 2010 |work=Liberty Times}}</ref> Through several court cases and pleads for bail, the High Court rejected his request for bail and continued to detain him in jail for another 5 months.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2010/06/19/2003475854 | title = High Court extends former president's period of custody | date = 19 June 2010 | work = Taipei Times | access-date = 19 June 2010 | archive-date = 1 January 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110101055856/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2010/06/19/2003475854 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=19 June 2010 |title=海外款未全匯回 扁續押兩個月 |trans-title=Chen Shui-bian to remain detained for two more months as overseas funds have not been fully repatriated. |url=http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2010/new/jun/19/today-p2.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100622234910/http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2010/new/jun/19/today-p2.htm |archive-date=22 June 2010 |work=Liberty Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2010/new/jul/20/today-p8.htm | title = 扁再押三月 將提抗告 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121017234252/http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2010/new/jul/20/today-p8.htm | archive-date = 17 October 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.taipeitimes.com.tw/News/taiwan/archives/2010/07/20/2003478350 | title = High Court extends Chen detention by three more months | date = 20 July 2010 | work = Taipei Times | access-date = 17 August 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120325131132/http://www.taipeitimes.com.tw/News/taiwan/archives/2010/07/20/2003478350 | archive-date = 25 March 2012 }}</ref> The detention led Chen's supporters to protest that the detention of Chen for more than 600 days without proving him guilty{{Clarify|date=November 2010}} was illegal, inhumane and unjust, and a result of political revenge by the part of the [[Kuomintang]] ([[KMT]]).<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2010/new/apr/8/today-p7.htm | title = 民進黨籲停押扁 改革羈押制度 | date = 8 April 2010 | work = Liberty Times | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100412003338/http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2010/new/apr/8/today-p7.htm | archive-date = 12 April 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=29 June 2009 |title=馬上司法辦綠不辦藍，馬英九哈佛的老師孔傑榮呼籲台灣司法界知道〈公益與私利〉，蔡英文聲明：落實司法人權，並停止羈押陳前總統 |trans-title=--- Immediately, the justice system is prosecuting green but not blue. Jerome Cohen, Ma Ying-jeou's Harvard professor, calls on Taiwan's judiciary to understand "public and private interests." Tsai Ing-wen states: implement judicial human rights and cease the detention of former President Chen. |url=http://blog.udn.com/chenglee/3088258 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703172924/http://blog.udn.com/chenglee/3088258 |archive-date=3 July 2009 |access-date=20 August 2010 |publisher=various sources}}</ref> The Yellow Ribbon Movement took to demonstration over alleged exploitation of justice and political revenge.<ref>{{cite web |date=13 July 2009 |title=全國繫黃絲帶 援扁司法人權 |trans-title=Nationwide yellow ribbon campaign to support Chen Shui-bian's judicial human rights. |url=http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2009/new/jul/13/today-p1.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090921041030/http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2009/new/jul/13/today-p1.htm |archive-date=21 September 2009 |work=Liberty Times}}</ref>

Meanwhile, on 17 August 2010, both the Taipei District Court and the High Court found ex-deputy military minister, Ke Cheng-Hen ({{lang|zh|柯承亨}}), not guilty of revealing non-military secrets to former president Chen Shui-Bian.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2010/new/aug/18/today-p9.htm | title = 柯承亨洩密案 無罪確定 | date = 18 August 2010 | work = Liberty Times | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100820162842/http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2010/new/aug/18/today-p9.htm | archive-date = 20 August 2010 }}</ref>

The parliament with a KMT and [[pan-Blue coalition]] majority passed an amendment to the "preferential treatment for retired presidents and vice presidents act" ({{lang|zh|卸任總統副總統禮遇條例}}) on 19 August 2010.<ref>{{cite web |date=20 August 2010 |title=立院三讀／貪污一審有罪 扁禮遇金沒了 |trans-title=Legislature Passes Third Reading: Chen Shui-bian's courtesy allowance revoked if convicted of corruption in the first instance. |url=http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2010/new/aug/20/today-p8.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822154855/http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2010/new/aug/20/today-p8.htm |archive-date=22 August 2010 |work=Liberty Times}}</ref> Introduced by the KMT, the amendment stipulated that former presidents and vice presidents will be stripped of courtesy treatment, including their monthly allowance and annual expenses, if convicted by a court of grave offense(s), such as sedition and graft. The number of bodyguards assigned to former presidents and vice presidents who are convicted of corruption in a first trial will also be reduced. Former president Chen's son stated the act was created to target the now imprisoned former president.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.taipeitimes.com.tw/News/front/archives/2010/08/21/2003480956 | title = Chen Shui-bian's son slams KMT over amended act | date = 21 August 2010 | work = Taipei Times | access-date = 20 August 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120325131231/http://www.taipeitimes.com.tw/News/front/archives/2010/08/21/2003480956 | archive-date = 25 March 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=21 August 2010 |title=窮到只剩下阿扁 |trans-title=Only A-Bian is left in poverty. |url=http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2010/new/aug/21/today-o8.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100823070232/http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2010/new/aug/21/today-o8.htm |archive-date=23 August 2010 |work=Liberty Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=24 August 2010 |title=扁禮遇被刪 本土社團批報復性條款 |trans-title=Chen Shui-bian's courtesy allowance cut, local groups criticize it as a retaliatory clause. |url=http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2010/new/aug/24/today-p11.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826011928/http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2010/new/aug/24/today-p11.htm |archive-date=26 August 2010 |work=Liberty Times}}</ref>

In July 2016, the United States Department of Justice announced it returned "approximately $1.5 million to Taiwan, the proceeds of the sale of a forfeited New York condominium and a Virginia residence that the United States alleged in its complaint were purchased with the proceeds of bribes." It also stated that Hong Kong and Swiss bank accounts, shell companies, and a St. Kitts and Nevis trust were used to launder the bribes that paid for the American properties. It was an inter-agency and international effort between the U.S. Justice Department, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations, and Taiwan's Supreme Prosecutors Office's Special Investigations Division.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-07-07 |title=Office of Public Affairs {{!}} United States Returns $1.5 Million in Forfeited Proceeds from Sale of Property Purchased with Alleged Bribes Paid to Family of Former President of Taiwan {{!}} United States Department of Justice |url=https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/united-states-returns-15-million-forfeited-proceeds-sale-property-purchased-alleged-bribes |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=www.justice.gov |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:10.10 前總統陳水扁與蔡英文於中華民國113年國慶大會.jpg|thumb|Chen made appearance in the [[National Day of the Republic of China|113th Double Tenth Day]] in 2024.]]

===Health and medical parole===
{{Expand section|date=October 2012}}
In September 2012, Chen was admitted to Taoyuan General Hospital after complaints of having difficulty urinating, where it was concluded that he had suffered from a minor stroke. He was subsequently transferred to the [[Taipei Veterans General Hospital]] for further testing, where he was diagnosed with [[sleep apnea]], severe depression and other cognitive disorders. His symptoms included stuttering and memory loss.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chang |first1=Rich |title=A-bian transferred to hospital despite family's objections |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2012/09/22/2003543364 |access-date=7 November 2021 |work=[[Taipei Times]] |archive-date=7 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107013101/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2012/09/22/2003543364 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Chris |title=Home care better for Chen: Veterans hospital chief |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2013/03/29/2003558261 |access-date=7 November 2021 |work=[[Taipei Times]] |date=29 March 2021 |archive-date=7 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107013103/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2013/03/29/2003558261 |url-status=live }}</ref> He attempted suicide on Sunday, 2 June 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/taiwan-s-jailed-former-president-chen-shui-bian-attempts-suicide-say-officials-374647 |title=Taiwan's jailed former president Chen Shui-bian attempts suicide, say officials |website=Ndtv.com |date=3 June 2013 |access-date=7 January 2017 |archive-date=23 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023115822/http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/taiwan-s-jailed-former-president-chen-shui-bian-attempts-suicide-say-officials-374647 |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2015, Chen was released from prison on medical parole due to his ailing (but undiagnosed) condition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baroš |first=Milan |date=2023-01-25 |title=vic88 |url=https://vic88.io/ |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=vic88.io |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-06/former-taiwan-president-chen-shui-bian-on-medical-parole/6002650|title=Former Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian released on medical parole|date=6 January 2015|work=ABC News|access-date=20 August 2018|language=en-AU|archive-date=15 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215091839/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-06/former-taiwan-president-chen-shui-bian-on-medical-parole/6002650|url-status=live}}</ref> His time spent under medical parole does not count toward his prison sentence.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chen Shui-bian released |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2015/01/06/2003608566 |work=[[Taipei Times]] |date=6 January 2015 |access-date=6 January 2015 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213951/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2015/01/06/2003608566 |url-status=live }}</ref>  Part of the terms of his medical parole stipulate that he cannot participate in public political discussions. In January 2021, he started a radio show of non-political nature. Some people called this issue out because Chen Shui-bian appeared to be in perfect health.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chen Shui-bian hosts first episode of new radio show |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/01/04/2003749913 |access-date=7 November 2021 |work=[[Taipei Times]] |date=4 January 2021 |archive-date=7 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107011408/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/01/04/2003749913 |url-status=live }}</ref> Chen currently serves as the host of a radio program.