Prosecutors yesterday raided the offices of more than 10 domestic financial institutions as part of a probe into money laundering claims against former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and his family.
Chen Yun-nan (陳雲南), spokesman for the Special Investigation Panel of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, said prosecutors and special agents from the Bureau of Investigation raided the institutions, which included Chinatrust Financial Holding Ltd Co (中信金控) and China Development Financial Holding Corp (開發金控).
Spokespersons for the two companies said they were not aware of the reasons for the searches, but sources said prosecutors suspect some of the Chen family’s overseas funds might have come from companies connected with financial reforms made during Chen Shui-bian’s terms in office.
Prosecutors investigating the Chen Shui-bian case also summoned former Mega Financial Holding Co (兆豐金) chairman Cheng Shen-chih (鄭深池) for questioning yesterday over whether the bank’s acquisition of Chinatrust Financial Holding involved any irregularities.
The Ministry of Finance said in August that it was looking into possible irregularities that may have occurred under financial reform engineered by Chen Shui-bian’s administration.
Yesterday’s raids were carried out after the financial markets closed to avoid creating unnecessary turbulence on the stock market.
Chen Yun-nan said the raids came after prosecutors discovered several money transfers from the banks to the former first family’s foreign bank accounts.
Asked if the SIP would summon other local businessmen for questioning, Chen said: “We are trying to figure out more details about the transactions at the moment. But we are not planning to summon anyone in the near future.”
The former president, his wife, son, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law and four others have been named as defendants in a probe into alleged money laundering.
Cheng’s name was added to the list of defendants last night.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY BLOOMBERG AND AFP
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