Asian Political News: LEAD: Taiwan man suspected of shooting Chen found dead

TAIPEI, March 7 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING)

Police said Monday they have identified the man suspected of firing at Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian on the eve of the presidential election in March last year.

But the suspect, Chen Yi-hsiung, died after the March 19 shooting, which injured Chen and his running mate Annette Lu in their election campaign in Tainan County, the police said.

The suspect was found drowned near a wharf in the county nine days after the gunshot attack. He is believed to have committed suicide for fear of being caught, they said.

The police said they were able to locate the suspect due to several reasons, including that he appeared in a blurry video tape recorded at the crime scene, the timing of his death and some statements from his wife and children.

Some records also showed that the suspect once purchased a pistol and bullets from a man who is head of an underground group suspected of making bullets used in the election-eve shooting, the police said.

The arrest of the man last December was seen as a significant development in the probe into the shooting.

''This is a major breakthrough, but not the end of the investigation,'' Criminal Investigation Bureau Commissioner Hou You-yi said. Hou said the suspect, a onetime bookie for campaign gambling, lived near the crime scene and has been known for his dissatisfaction with the government.

But some analysts said some uncertainties as to the handling of the case still need to be clarified. The gun used in the attack is missing and his motive for attacking the president is unknown.

Opposition parties lashed out at the police, saying such an announcement was simply made for political reasons.

Chen Shui-bian, of the Democratic Progressive Party, won the March 20 presidential election for a second term, defeating Lien Chan of the Nationalist Party by a narrow margin. The shooting is widely thought to have helped Chen garner sympathy votes.

Lien has declined to concede defeat and has filed two separate lawsuits seeking to nullify Chen's victory.