Wu was charged with corruption and forgery in November 2006 for using receipts provided by others to claim reimbursements totaling NT$14.8 million from the president’s “state affairs fund” between July 2002 and March 2006. Chen Shui-bian, who had immunity from prosecution while in office, was named as a co-defendant in the “state affairs fund” case after completing his presidential term in May.
Chen Shui-bian’s office issued a separate statement yesterday morning, denying any involvement in money laundering and reiterating that the money remitted was from campaign funds and not related to the PNG scandal.
“The money was not all wired in January 2007. The money was there before 2007 and so it had nothing to do with the PNG scandal,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, following a provisional meeting yesterday afternoon, DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) bowed twice to apologize to the public on behalf of the party for the “impact and instability” that the Chen case had caused.
“In regard to Chen and his wife’s decision to withdraw from the party and his desire to shoulder responsibility for his actions as well as to undergo an investigation by the party’s anti-corruption committee, we respect his decision and accept it,” Tsai said.
Even though Chen Shui-bian is no longer a party member, the committee will probe the matter and hopefully keep its impact to a minimum, she said.
Some impact is, however, “inevitable,” Tsai said, adding that the party would face it bravely and responsibly.
“We will give the public a DPP that is renewed and worthy of expectations,” she said.
“Anti-corruption and local values are the DPP’s only assets ... we are willing to start over and face these difficulties and continue to be an opposition to the KMT government and protect Taiwan’s sovereignty and democracy,” she said.
“In the investigation of Chen’s case, we will not be biased or cover [anything] up; the DPP will support the courts and we stress that Chen has the right and must offer the public a clearer explanation,” she said.
Meanwhile, former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) yesterday dismissed Chen Shui-bian’s accusation that he had used others’ names to transfer about US$1 billion abroad and that it was well known that former KMT chairman Lien Chan (連戰) has investments and property overseas.
Lee said in a written statement that Chen Shui-bian had accused him of using two personal guards to make transfers in 2002. The allegation was groundless, Lee said.
Vice President Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) urged Chen Shui-bian not to make accusations and said he and President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) had followed legal procedures in handling their campaign funds.
“It’s crucial for the judiciary to find out where the money was from and how it was used,” Ma said while in Paraguay for a state visit. “The truth should be determined by the judiciary rather than by the persons involved.”
Asked about Chen’s accusation that Ma failed to report campaign funds in full, the president said: “I always report all my campaign funds in full.”
Additional reporting by Shih Hsiu-chuan and CNA
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