TAIPEI: A Taiwanese court decided to release Chen on bail early on Saturday, an official said, some 10 hours after he was indicted for corruption.

A panel of three judges said Chen could leave custody on condition that he would appear at future court hearings and would not leave the country nor change his address, said an official at the Taipei district court.

The ex-leader was not required to provide any surety for the bail, the official added.

Chen’s lawyer Cheng Wen-long welcomed the decision, saying it would help increase judicial credibility.

“This is a step forward for Taiwan’s judicial system. It will also ease doubt on prosecutors forcing confessions by detaining” Chen, he said.—AFP