Indicted Taiwan ex-leader sent back to prison

TAIPEI: Former Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian was sent back to jail yesterday because of the severity of the graft charges against him, a court spokesman said.

Chen became the first former leader of the island to be indicted after prosecutors charged him and more than 10 other family members and aides on Dec 12 with corruption, forgery and money laundering.

Chen was arrested last month and held in jail until his conditional release on Dec 13.