Banker released on bail in Taiwan: prosecutorsTaiwan has released on bail a former fugitive banker who returned for questioning in a money-laundering probe that has already locked up former president Chen Shui-bian Chen Shui-bian, 1951–, Taiwanese political leader, president of Taiwan (2000–). Born into poverty, he obtained his law degree from National Taiwan Univ. in 1975 and practiced as a maritime lawyer. , prosecutors said Tuesday. Jeffrey Koo Jr, former vice chairman of Taipei-based Chinatrust Financial Holding, was released on three million US dollars bail late Monday after marathon questioning following his return to the island. "Given that he is not likely to flee flee v. fled , flee·ing, flees v.intr. 1. To run away, as from trouble or danger: fled from the house into the night. 2. nor collude col·lude intr.v. col·lud·ed, col·lud·ing, col·ludes To act together secretly to achieve a fraudulent, illegal, or deceitful purpose; conspire. with the other suspects, Mr Koo was released on a bail," a spokesman for prosecutors told reporters. Koo, who had been in hiding Adv. 1. in hiding - quietly in concealment; "he lay doggo" doggo, out of sight in Japan since evading an arrest warrant in 2006, made a surprise return on Monday. The spokesman for the prosecutors confirmed that Koo's move was initiated by a prosecutor prosecutor Government attorney who presents the state's case against the defendant in a criminal prosecution. In some countries (France, Japan), public prosecution is carried out by a single office. In the U.S., states and counties have their own prosecutors. who had met Koo in Japan, but declined to say if Koo would receive leniency le·ni·en·cy n. pl. le·ni·en·cies 1. The condition or quality of being lenient. See Synonyms at mercy. 2. A lenient act. Noun 1. in return. He was questioned over Chinatrust's bid for a rival company, which prompted the arrest warrant two years ago, as well over the allegations levelled at Chen. Chen, his wife, son, daughter-in-law and brother-in-law have all been named as defendants in the money-laundering case. Koo's father, chairman of Chinatrust Financial Holding, was summoned in late October as a witness over the firm's suspected role in the case against Chen. Prosecutors had raided three companies, including Chinatrust, over their suspected roles in transactions to the Chen family's overseas accounts. The Koo family allegedly paid Chen millions of dollars in kickbacks, in exchange for the government's purchase of land at a price that was above market value. 
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