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
‘NO SECURITY RISK’: The Railway Bureau reassured the public that the technicians’ activities were limited to technical guidance and did not involve sensitive systems The Railway Bureau yesterday said it had invited eight Chinese technicians to assist with an airport MRT construction project. The bureau issued the confirmation after an Internet user said Chinese nationals had entered the construction zone of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport’s Terminal 3 project. They asked why “individuals from an enemy state” were allowed access to such a major national infrastructure project, which raised serious concerns over Taiwan’s industrial safety, sensitive systems and information security. The bureau’s Northern Region Engineering Branch Office said subcontractor Taiwan Handle Industrial Co (台灣手把工業) of the Taoyuan airport MRT’s “Contract No. CU05 Project A14 Station Civil, MEP &
A US uncrewed surface vessel (USV) encountered multiple Chinese warships during an autonomous transit of the Taiwan Strait, US defense company Seasats said in a statement on Wednesday. Seasats announced that a Lightfish USV had completed the first autonomous transit of the Taiwan Strait. Over five days, the USV traversed the entire length of the Strait while constantly monitoring surface vessel traffic, the company said. The Lightfish encountered multiple Chinese warships, one of which was a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Type 056 corvette, it said. The Chinese vessels were operating “well within Taiwan’s exclusive economic zone without transmitting their identity via the
‘BOOMING’: ’ The number of partners we have here is incredible. You can see from their stock prices. They’re doing so well, they’re so happy,’ Jensen Huang said Nvidia Corp’s spending in Taiwan has ballooned to about US$150 billion a year, 10 times the US$10 billion to US$15 billion the company spent five years ago, Nvidia chief executive officer Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) said yesterday, suggesting Taiwan’s strategic importance in the global artificial intelligence (AI) supply chain. “Taiwan is the epicenter of the AI revolution. This is where the chips come, packaging comes. This is where the systems are made. This is where AI supercomputers were created,” Huang said at a meeting for the company’s employees in Beitou-Shilin Technology Park (北投士林科技園區) in Taipei, the planned site of Nvidia’s Taipei headquarters. “Taiwan
GREATER REACH? Auto parts and wood products would face tariffs of up to 15%, matching those targeting the EU, Japan and South Korea, Vice Premier said The US has announced that preferential tariff treatment for Taiwan’s non-semiconductor Section 232 goods would take effect retroactively from May 1, the Executive Yuan said yesterday. The US government yesterday posted a notice on the Federal Register’s public inspection Web site previewing tariff concessions for Taiwan under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Taiwan-US investment after two months of negotiations. The MOU signed on Jan. 15 stipulated three major preferential tariff arrangements: a 15 percent “reciprocal” tariff rate for Taiwan without stacking most-favored nation (MFN) rates; preferential Section 232 treatment for semiconductors and related products; and preferential Section 232 treatment for non-semiconductor
RSS