Former Taiwan presidential aide gets 12-year sentence

TAIPEI, Dec 13 (Reuters) A former Taiwan presidential aide was sentenced to 12 years' jail today for cheating a businessman out of Tsix million dollars (5,000).

The Taipei District Court sentenced former deputy secretary general Chen Che-nan for cheating Liang Po-hsun, a former construction company chairman who fled Taiwan in 2003 in the wake of embezzlement charges.

Chen took the money in return for offering to persuade a judge not to convict Liang of fraud, Taiwan's Central News Agency has reported.

After he leaves prison, Chen cannot vote, run for public office or work as a public servant for ten years, the court ruled.

Chen's case and others involving aides and family of President Chen Shui-bian -- no relation to the defendant --have hurt the image of the president and his ruling party. Chen was elected in 2000 and narrowly re-elected in 2004.

REUTERS BDP BST1707