The High Court`s panel of judges said Chen was acquitted because they found that the former president justified all the funds he used during diplomatic trips overseas with receipts or documentation.
The judges also said in the verdict that prosecutors failed to produce evidence to prove that Chen embezzled funds earmarked for his discretionary spending during overseas trips.
The prosecutors also did not prove that money remitted by Chen`s wife to their son, Chen Chih-chung, when he was living and studying in the United States between 2000-2006 had come from the diplomatic funds, the judges said.
The verdict can be appealed, the judges said.
The prosecutors, meanwhile, said Tuesday that they would decide whether to appeal the not guilty verdict after they receive the written ruling from the High Court.
The High Court upheld a not guilty verdict handed down by the Taipei District Court last June in the case.
Chen was indicted in September 2009 for withholding US$30,000 from the US$100,000 given to him by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for discretionary spending during each of his 11 overseas trips as president between August 2000 and September 2006.
The prosecutors said in the indictment that Chen`s wife remitted the funds, a total of US$330,000, to his son in the United States. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
