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Former Taiwan president detained Former Taiwan president detained
(20 minutes later)
Former Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian has been detained in connection with corruption allegations. Taiwan's former President Chen Shui-bian has been detained in connection with corruption claims.
Mr Chen is accused of money laundering and illegally using a special presidential fund during his eight years in office, which ended in May. Mr Chen spent much of Tuesday being questioned by prosecutors, before being led away in handcuffs.
He is accused of money laundering and illegally using a special presidential fund during his eight years in office, which ended in May.
He denies any wrongdoing, and accuses the new administration of persecuting him to bow to the wishes of Beijing.He denies any wrongdoing, and accuses the new administration of persecuting him to bow to the wishes of Beijing.
Mr Chen is an ardent supporter of Taiwanese independence, and his views have angered the Beijing government.Mr Chen is an ardent supporter of Taiwanese independence, and his views have angered the Beijing government.
Political persecution?
The former leader spent more than six hours in the prosecutor's office on Tuesday answering questions about corruption.
As he was led out, he put his handcuffed hands in the air and shouted "political persecution" before getting into a waiting vehicle.
Although he has now been detained, it appears he has yet to be formally arrested over the charges. However he clearly expects to be, and said so at a news conference earlier in the day.
Mr Chen and his family have been mired in corruption allegations since 2006, when his son-in-law was charged with insider trading on the stock market and then jailed for seven years.
The former president is under investigation for allegedly embezzling 14.8 million Taiwan dollars (US$480,500; £306,000) from the government.