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Tuesday 10 February 2009
Taiwan’s Ex-First Lady Pleads Guilty
Taiwan former first lady Wu Shu-jen pleaded guilty on Tuesday in connection with a massive graft case embroiling her family after she showed up in court after 17 non-appearances in two years.
TAIPEI - Taiwan former first lady Wu Shu-jen pleaded guilty on Tuesday in connection with a massive graft case embroiling her family after she showed up in court after 17 non-appearances in two years.
Wu, who beamed and waved as she entered the Taipei District Court in a wheelchair, is charged with embezzlement and receipt forgery involving public funds. Prosecutors added a money-laundering charge in December.
She pleaded guilty to forgery and of accepting US$2.2 million (S$3.3 million) related to a suspected shady land use deal, but denied other graft charges.
The case involving Wu, her husband former president Chen Shui-bian, their family and his aides has hurt the image of the Democratic Progressive Party, which backed Chen in office from 2000 to 2008 and faces tense local elections later this year.
Chen and Wu left the party in August.
At her only other appearance so far, to enter a not-guilty plea in December 2006, Wu apparently fainted in a courthouse restroom. Paralysed from the waist down from an accident in 1985, she sought medical leave thereafter, enraging the judges.
Chen is in jail awaiting trial on charges he and his family embezzled NT$104 million (S$4.5 million) from a special fund, took bribes of about US$9 million related to a land procurement deal and accepted another US$2.73 million in kickbacks to help a contractor.
Prosecutors are going easier on Wu.
'We don't have a specific sentence, just that she be prosecuted under law,' said prosecutor's spokesman Chen Yun-nan.
Wu's lawyers would not comment on Tuesday's court appearance, which was a preparatory hearing ahead of an expected full trial.
Taiwan’s former first lady Wu Shu-chen pleaded guilty to money laundering and forgery but denied embezzlement charges at a hearing into her high-profile corruption case on Tuesday.
The wheelchair-bound Wu, making her first court appearance in more than two years, admitted wiring 2.2 million US dollars abroad but said the money was from a political donation, not a bribe as alleged by prosecutors.
“The Nankang case and the related money laundering, I plead guilty,” Wu told the court referring to the money she received from an exhibition hall construction deal.
That money is part of a massive case also implicating her detained husband, former president Chen Shui-bian, involving 20 million US dollars allegedly wired abroad in total.
Wu, aged 56, also admitted charges of forging documents in a separate case involving embezzled public funds, but denied using the money for personal gain.
Former president Chen, in addition to money laundering, has also been charged with embezzlement, taking bribes, influence peddling and extortion. He faces life in prison if convicted on all counts.
He denies the charges.
Wu, wearing an orange jacket and accompanied by her son Chen Chih-chung, had arrived at Taipei District Court in the afternoon under tight security and waved to a small group of supporters.
The National Taiwan University Hospital sent two doctors, two nurses and an ambulance to the court, mindful of 2006 when Wu collapsed at the start of her trial. She had since been excused on health grounds from all court sessions.
“I am sorry for wiring the money abroad without letting my husband know in advance,” she told the court.
“I am sorry that society paid a huge price for this case... I should never have got involved in these matters and I will reflect on myself,” Wu told reporters after the session closed.
“I will honestly face the trial, attend court if my health permits and cooperate with prosecutors in their ongoing investigation.”
Wu became the first Taiwanese first lady to face criminal proceedings when she was indicted in 2006 for allegedly embezzling 14.8 million Taiwan dollars (440,000 US) in special expenses from the government while her husband was president.
She still faces court hearings over the alleged embezzlement, taking bribes and more money laundering, charges she denies.
Some legal experts have expressed concern over the handling of Chen’s case, including the court’s decision to detain him before trial and to switch the presiding judge.
The pro-independence Chen, who formerly led the now-opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), accuses the current China-friendly government of his successor, President Ma Ying-jeou, of leading a witch-hunt.
Chen, who pledged to clean up notoriously corrupt Taiwanese politics when he took power in 2000, left office in May last year after serving the maximum two terms as president.
Four other members of the Chen family, including the ex-leader’s son and daughter-in-law, had previously pleaded guilty to charges of money laundering in a case that has gripped the island for months.
At the request of Wu’s lawyers, the judge postponed Wednesday’s hearing on the other charges against her to March 3 and 5.
Chen is next due in court for a three-day session beginning on February 24.
2 comments:
Taiwan’s Ex-First Lady Pleads Guilty
Reuters
10 February 2009
TAIPEI - Taiwan former first lady Wu Shu-jen pleaded guilty on Tuesday in connection with a massive graft case embroiling her family after she showed up in court after 17 non-appearances in two years.
Wu, who beamed and waved as she entered the Taipei District Court in a wheelchair, is charged with embezzlement and receipt forgery involving public funds. Prosecutors added a money-laundering charge in December.
She pleaded guilty to forgery and of accepting US$2.2 million (S$3.3 million) related to a suspected shady land use deal, but denied other graft charges.
The case involving Wu, her husband former president Chen Shui-bian, their family and his aides has hurt the image of the Democratic Progressive Party, which backed Chen in office from 2000 to 2008 and faces tense local elections later this year.
Chen and Wu left the party in August.
At her only other appearance so far, to enter a not-guilty plea in December 2006, Wu apparently fainted in a courthouse restroom. Paralysed from the waist down from an accident in 1985, she sought medical leave thereafter, enraging the judges.
Chen is in jail awaiting trial on charges he and his family embezzled NT$104 million (S$4.5 million) from a special fund, took bribes of about US$9 million related to a land procurement deal and accepted another US$2.73 million in kickbacks to help a contractor.
Prosecutors are going easier on Wu.
'We don't have a specific sentence, just that she be prosecuted under law,' said prosecutor's spokesman Chen Yun-nan.
Wu's lawyers would not comment on Tuesday's court appearance, which was a preparatory hearing ahead of an expected full trial.
Taiwan ex-leader’s wife admits money laundering
AFP
10 February 2009
Taiwan’s former first lady Wu Shu-chen pleaded guilty to money laundering and forgery but denied embezzlement charges at a hearing into her high-profile corruption case on Tuesday.
The wheelchair-bound Wu, making her first court appearance in more than two years, admitted wiring 2.2 million US dollars abroad but said the money was from a political donation, not a bribe as alleged by prosecutors.
“The Nankang case and the related money laundering, I plead guilty,” Wu told the court referring to the money she received from an exhibition hall construction deal.
That money is part of a massive case also implicating her detained husband, former president Chen Shui-bian, involving 20 million US dollars allegedly wired abroad in total.
Wu, aged 56, also admitted charges of forging documents in a separate case involving embezzled public funds, but denied using the money for personal gain.
Former president Chen, in addition to money laundering, has also been charged with embezzlement, taking bribes, influence peddling and extortion. He faces life in prison if convicted on all counts.
He denies the charges.
Wu, wearing an orange jacket and accompanied by her son Chen Chih-chung, had arrived at Taipei District Court in the afternoon under tight security and waved to a small group of supporters.
The National Taiwan University Hospital sent two doctors, two nurses and an ambulance to the court, mindful of 2006 when Wu collapsed at the start of her trial. She had since been excused on health grounds from all court sessions.
“I am sorry for wiring the money abroad without letting my husband know in advance,” she told the court.
“I am sorry that society paid a huge price for this case... I should never have got involved in these matters and I will reflect on myself,” Wu told reporters after the session closed.
“I will honestly face the trial, attend court if my health permits and cooperate with prosecutors in their ongoing investigation.”
Wu became the first Taiwanese first lady to face criminal proceedings when she was indicted in 2006 for allegedly embezzling 14.8 million Taiwan dollars (440,000 US) in special expenses from the government while her husband was president.
She still faces court hearings over the alleged embezzlement, taking bribes and more money laundering, charges she denies.
Some legal experts have expressed concern over the handling of Chen’s case, including the court’s decision to detain him before trial and to switch the presiding judge.
The pro-independence Chen, who formerly led the now-opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), accuses the current China-friendly government of his successor, President Ma Ying-jeou, of leading a witch-hunt.
Chen, who pledged to clean up notoriously corrupt Taiwanese politics when he took power in 2000, left office in May last year after serving the maximum two terms as president.
Four other members of the Chen family, including the ex-leader’s son and daughter-in-law, had previously pleaded guilty to charges of money laundering in a case that has gripped the island for months.
At the request of Wu’s lawyers, the judge postponed Wednesday’s hearing on the other charges against her to March 3 and 5.
Chen is next due in court for a three-day session beginning on February 24.
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