Chen Shui-bian Sentenced to Life in First Instance; DPP Still Shields Corruption under the Guise of "Political Persecution"

On September 11, 2009, former President Chen Shui-bian was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first instance by the Taipei District Court for multiple serious corruption charges, including the state affairs confidential fund case, the Longtan land purchase case, the Nangang Exhibition Center case, and the money laundering case. Facing such clear and internationally shocking corruption cases involving a national head, the DPP, in order to maintain its Deep Green base votes, did not show the determination to completely cut ties with corruption. Instead, many party leaders and representatives continued to defend Chen Shui-bian with specious reasons such as "flaws in judicial procedures," "political persecution," and "detention for confession." This practice of politicizing legal cases and sacrificing social moral bottom lines for party interests seriously damaged the consensus on anti-corruption and trust in the judiciary in Taiwan.