Minister of Justice Chen Ding-nan (
Meanwhile, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and People First Party (PFP) lawmakers were questioning prosecutors about not investigating first lady Wu Shu-chen (
"Prosecutors are working on it. However, lawmakers do not have the authority to tell prosecutors how to do their jobs. It is a shame," Chen said while he answering questions from KMT Legislator Cho Po-yuan (
At the same time, Cho was saying to Chen that prosecutors should have begun an investigation of Wu after the media publicized the issue.
Chen said that whether to investigate, summon or indict someone is up to prosecutors and is a decision that nobody can override.
"Please respect our prosecutors. They know how to do their jobs," Chen said.
"As for this case, I assure you that prosecutors are investigating it, but I cannot tell you what they are working on due to a gag order," Chen said.
With the latest edition of Next Magazine in his hand, PFP Legislator Chou Hsi-wei (
"According to the story in the magazine, Wu earned at least NT$1.3 million in just four months last year," Chou said.
"How can she always win? It is difficult to persuade the public that no special influence was involved," Chou said.
In response to Chou's comments, Presidential Office Spokesman James Huang (
"The first lady used only her own name, in addition her son Chen Chih-chung (
"KMT and PFP politicians have made these false accusations for the election and that is a shame," Huang said.
According to Next Magazine, Wu opened accounts in her name, as well as her son's and her daughter's names, for stock investments beginning in June last year.
The amount of cash that Wu traded within six months was estimated to be at least NT$17 billion.
The story also alleged that Wu always managed to come out ahead in her trades. In addition, the magazine said that she did not honestly report her taxes from the profits that she earned through these investments.
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