Prosecutors seek detention of former president

Prosecutors in charge of the investigation told reporters that it is necessary to take Chen into custody while they continue their probe because the crimes Chen is suspected of committing are felonies, and he might tamper with evidence.

Chen would become Taiwan's first former president to be detained if the court approves the prosecutors' request.

Chen said in a news conference Monday that he believed he would be detained Tuesday.

Before walking into the court's office in downtown Taipei Tuesday morning, he told reporters he would soon enter "Taiwan's Bastille," referring to the historic prison in Paris, but said "it will only lock up my body, not my heart."

Chen described himself as the "top prisoner of war of the ruling KMT and the Communist Party of China and the biggest hurdle for the two parties to move toward unification."

It was the fifth time Chen was summoned by he Special Investigation Division. Since the end of his second term in May, he and his family have being investigated on suspicions of embezzlement, bribery and money laundering during Chen's two terms as president.

Each of the crimes Chen is accused of committing carries a minimum penalty of five years imprisonment.

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