Chen Shui bian

(Newser) - The former president of Taiwan, serving a 20-year prison sentence on corruption charges, tried to commit suicide last night—with a towel. The Justice Ministry says wardens found Chen Shui-bian in a prison bathroom in time, and "no serious abnormalities were found after a health check." No word...

(Newser) - The former president of Taiwan was convicted of corruption and sentenced to life imprisonment today, marking a watershed event in the island's turbulent political history. Chen Shui-bian, president from 2000 to 2008, was charged with embezzling $3.15 million from a special presidential fund, receiving bribes worth at least $9...

(Newser) - Taiwanese prosecutors indicted former President Chen Shui-bian on graft charges today, a stunning blow for a man who rose to power in 2000 on promises to reform the island's corrupt political culture. Chen has been jailed since Nov. 12 on accusations of money laundering and other offenses, and he mounted...

(Newser) - Taiwan’s China-friendly opposition party dominated parliamentary elections today, the BBC reports, dealing a blow to the hard-line president 2 months before his own poll. The KMT, which supports closer ties with Beijing, trounced the ruling DPP, winning 72% of the seats in the 113-seat chamber. President Chen Shui-bian, resigning...