The son-in-law of Taiwan's President, Chen Shui-bian, has been detained.

The son-in-law of Taiwan's President, Chen Shui-bian, has been detained
by prosecutors after a night of questioning over allegations that he
was involved in insider trading.

It is the first time a member of the family of a Taiwanese president
has been detained on suspicion of breaking the law.

The case, which has prompted calls by opposition politicians for the
president to resign, has dominated the news headlines.

TV footage showed the president's son-in-law, Chao Chien-ming, being
escorted into a police van and taken to a detention facility on the
outskirts of the capital.

Mr Chao's parents, brother and sister-in-law were also questioned but
later released.

It has been alleged that Mr Chao and his family made windfall profits
on shares in a state-owned property development company using their
ties to the president to obtain privileged information.

Mr Chao has rejected allegations of insider trading.

Scandals mount

The case has sparked calls from some opposition politicians for
President Chen to resign. It has also angered many within his own
party, which had prided itself on its clean image.

President Chen, whose popularity ratings are at an all-time low,
apologised to the public as he marked his halfway term in office at the
weekend.

He said he respected the judiciary's independence and would not cover
up wrong-doing.

But the scandals appear to be snowballing. Earlier this week a cabinet
official - the vice chairman of the National Science Council - resigned
after being arrested on charges of illegally profiting from an
engineering contract.

Defence Ministry officials, meanwhile, are investigating allegations of
insider dealing involving a general who formerly worked at the
presidential office.

.