A former aide of Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian has been sentenced
to 12 years in jail on corruption charges.
Chen Che-nan, former deputy secretary general of Chen Shuibian's
office,was jailed for cheating businessman Liang Po-hsun out of six
million New Taiwan dollars (US$185,000).
Chen took the money in return for offering to persuade a judge
not to convict Liang of fraud, local media has reported.
Prosecutors originally called for an eight-year sentence for
Chen, but on Wednesday the court handed down a 12-year term, saying
the crime was more serious and tarnished Taiwan's judicial image,
local media said.
(Xinhua News Agency December 14, 2006)