Mr Chen's sentence: Your views

Chen Shui-bian was in office from 2000 to 2008

Taiwan's former President, Chen Shui-bian, has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of corruption by a court in Taipei.

Mr Chen was charged with embezzlement, taking bribes and money laundering, involving a total of $15m (£9m). He had denied the charges, saying they were politically motivated.

BBC website readers have been expressing their views on the sentence.

Mr Chen was born in a very poor family, but he studied hard and became an outstanding lawyer. He fought corruption when he was a legislator, which made him very famous. So people called him "the son of Taiwan" and the Taiwanese were proud of his achievements. Indeed, what Mr Chen did really hurts Taiwan and all the people on this island.
Pai-Chun Tsao, Taipei, Taiwan

When in the middle of his second term in office, the opposition accused him of corruption and organised several weeks of demonstrations to force him to resign, I thought that this was mainly political manoeuvring and that their claims were largely exaggerated. However, it seems that where there is smoke, there really is fire. The trial showed us that not only the original accusations seem to be correct, but that Mr Chen and his family have even more skeletons in their closet.
Michael, Taipei, Taiwan

This trial did not fulfil the most basic procedural standards any democratic country should possess. Among others, the authorities changed the trial judge for no justifiable reasons. What happened since is not justice, but politics.
Chiou Jing-Yuan, Lucca, Italy

Chen Shui-bian and his wife deserved the punishments. If they want to preserve the rest of their pride, they should confess their guilt and apologise to the public. The sentences are the symbol of justice and I hope the money that they stole from people can be given back to us.
Lucy, Taipei, Taiwan

As a Chinese girl, I feel that his behaviour has not only shocked us emotionally but has caused extreme losses in China. Bribery is a big problem for a developing China. If there were less people involved in bribery, it would be better for the economy.
Vanterzyna, China

This judgment is outrageous! Assuming Mr Chen is guilty, the conviction is more serious than a cold-blooded serial killer would get. The penal system has set a record!
Vincent, Taipei, Taiwan

The sentence is totally unfair and unjust for the charges. A special investigating group from the courts investigated and looked for evidence day and night, from heaven to the hell, but found no proof of crime. Chen is the symbol of Taiwanese democracy which is against China.
Chen Tzu Mei, Manukau, Auckland, New Zealand

I am so happy that Chen Shui-bian has been sentenced to life in prison because he made so many mistakes and took bad decisions during his ruling. What he did was not only embezzlement, money laundering and taking bribes, but he also caused problems between different ethnicities in Taiwan. All he did as a president was to make a profit for his own political party and his family, wasting the social funds and people's taxes. As a high school student in Taiwan, I felt angry about what he did, and now, finally, he is going to go to jail.
Anton Bi, Taoyuan, Taiwan

I think Mr Chen and his family deserve legal punishment for what they have done to this country - they should learn to be modest and decent. However, the sentence is severe.
Miao-wen Yu, Taipei, Taiwan

Chen Shui-bian should be sentenced to death and executed immediately. The damage he did to our country is irreversible. Some people are even supporting him. Shame on them!
Chen Jeng-chang, Taipei, Taiwan

I was so excited to hear this news. This is the first time in Chinese history that a top leader is charged and sentenced to life in prison. This is great progress for the justice in Chinese history. Words can't express how thrilled I am. I think the prosecutor and the judicial system are impartial. They sent Chen to jail with enough proof that he is corrupt, not because of his pro-independence behaviour. Obviously, Chen tried to politicise his case, to distract from the issue of corruption and to get support from his party.
Owen, Jiangxi province, China

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