The US is seeking to take over two properties in New York and Virginia owned by former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and his wife.
The US Justice Department filed complaints on Wednesday in New York and Virginia alleging part of US$6 million paid in bribes to Chen’s wife, Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍), was used to purchase an apartment in Manhattan and a house in Keswick, Virginia. The complaints state that Yuanta Securities Co (元大證券) paid a bribe to ensure its bid to acquire additional shares in Fuhwa Financial Holding Co (復華金控) would not be blocked by authorities.
“A portion of these bribe proceeds were then transferred ... to the United States and used to purchase a condominium in Manhattan” and a house in Virginia, the complaints allege.
PHOTO: CNA
Chen and Wu were convicted last year of embezzling state funds, accepting bribes and money laundering, and sentenced to life in prison. The sentences were reduced to 20 years by an appeals court on June 11, although that verdict is being appealed by prosecutors.
Homeland Security Director for Immigration and Customs Enforcement John Morton said the complaints reflect the US’ determination not to allow itself to be abused by corrupt foreign officials.
“This serves as a warning to those ... officials who abuse their power for personal financial gain and then attempt to place those funds in the US financial system,” he said.
Chen was perplexed by the US request and urged the US judiciary to await the final court ruling on the “case of the second financial reform” before taking any action, the couple’s son, Chen Chih-chung (陳致中), said yesterday after visiting his father at the Taipei Detention Center in Tucheng (土城), Taipei County.
The former president was referring to the prosecutors’ allegation that he and his wife accepted bribes from banks in 2007 to “smooth” requirements at the time the government was implementing a second phase of financial reforms to encourage monetary institutions to merge.
Chen Chih-chung said he did not understand the US government’s “leap in thinking.”
“Maybe the US government did not have sufficient information before it made the decision,” he said. “Such a decision was arbitrary.”
Chen Chih-chung said he suspects the US government made the request based on the “second financial reform case.”
However, before Taipei District Court hands down its verdict in that case, the US could not be sure if the money used to buy the properties was dirty, he said.
The Presidential Office and the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) both declined to comment yesterday. Presidential Office Spokesman Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) said President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) would not intervene in an ongoing case.
“This is a case where Department of Justice is working with Taiwan authorities ... I cannot comment on the specifics of an ongoing case,” AIT spokesperson Sheila Pasksman said.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman Henry Chen (陳銘政) said the ministry respected the US judicial process and would provide any information the US requested, although it would not volunteer such information.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SHIH HSIU-CHUAN
The US government has signed defense cooperation agreements with Japan and the Philippines to boost the deterrence capabilities of countries in the first island chain, a report by the National Security Bureau (NSB) showed. The main countries on the first island chain include the two nations and Taiwan. The bureau is to present the report at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee tomorrow. The US military has deployed Typhon missile systems to Japan’s Yamaguchi Prefecture and Zambales province in the Philippines during their joint military exercises. It has also installed NMESIS anti-ship systems in Japan’s Okinawa
‘WIN-WIN’: The Philippines, and central and eastern European countries are important potential drone cooperation partners, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung said Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) in an interview published yesterday confirmed that there are joint ventures between Taiwan and Poland in the drone industry. Lin made the remark in an exclusive interview with the Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister paper). The government-backed Taiwan Excellence Drone International Business Opportunities Alliance and the Polish Chamber of Unmanned Systems on Wednesday last week signed a memorandum of understanding in Poland to develop a “non-China” supply chain for drones and work together on key technologies. Asked if Taiwan prioritized Poland among central and eastern European countries in drone collaboration, Lin
ON ALERT: Taiwan’s partners would issue warnings if China attempted to use Interpol to target Taiwanese, and the global body has mechanisms to prevent it, an official said China has stationed two to four people specializing in Taiwan affairs at its embassies in several democratic countries to monitor and harass Taiwanese, actions that the host nations would not tolerate, National Security Bureau (NSB) Director-General Tsai Ming-yen (蔡明彥) said yesterday. Tsai made the comments at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, which asked him and Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) to report on potential conflicts in the Taiwan Strait and military preparedness. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Michelle Lin (林楚茵) expressed concern that Beijing has posted personnel from China’s Taiwan Affairs Office to its
BACK TO WORK? Prosecutors said they are considering filing an appeal, while the Hsinchu City Government said it has applied for Ann Kao’s reinstatement as mayor The High Court yesterday found suspended Hsinchu mayor Ann Kao (高虹安) not guilty of embezzling assistant fees, reducing her sentence to six months in prison commutable to a fine from seven years and four months. The verdict acquitted Kao of the corruption charge, but found her guilty of causing a public official to commit document forgery. The High Prosecutors’ Office said it is reviewing the ruling and considering whether to file an appeal. The Taipei District Court in July last year sentenced Kao to seven years and four months in prison, along with a four-year deprivation of civil rights, for contravening the Anti-Corruption
RSS