The Taiwan High Court yesterday ruled to keep former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) behind bars for another three months, on the grounds that he might flee the country if released.

At 8:45pm last night, an hour later than scheduled, Presiding Judge Teng Chen-chiu (鄧振球) announced the appeals court’s decision to extend Chen’s detention because he was suspected of committing serious crimes and, as a former president, he has more channels to flee the country than an ordinary citizen.