The Supreme Court has absolved President Chen Shui-bian of punishment for the misuse of state funds.
Friday’s ruling comes a little over a month after the legislature passed an amendment to Taiwan’s Accounting Act. The amendment said any actions related to the use of special allowance funds before December 31, 2006 are exempt from punishment.
The opposition Kuomintang protested the amendment. Party figures accused the government of using the law change to protect Chen, who is a member of the ruling party.
On Friday, the Supreme Court also ruled on the money laundering case involving Chen, his wife and their family. It gave former first lady Wu Shu-chen a two-year sentence for money laundering. The couple’s son Chen Chi-chung was given a one-year sentence, and their daughter-in-law Huang Jui-ching — 10 months.
Although the court absolved Chen of misuse of state funds, he still faces charges in a number of other lawsuits.
In 2010, Chen was given a sentence of about 20 years in jail for these cases, but he was granted medical parole in 2015.