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Prosecutors summon Ma Yung-cheng again

" Neither the first family nor I have anything to do with the case, as I have said many times before."

Ma Yung-cheng, former Presidential Office secretary-general

Former Presidential Office deputy secretary-general Ma Yung-cheng (馬永成) was summoned by prosecutors for the second time yesterday for questioning over his possible role in the fight for ownership over Sogo Department Store four years ago.

After being questioned, Ma, on the request of the prosecutors, was cross-questioned with Chen Che-nan (陳哲男) in an investigative hearing behind closed doors.

Chen, who served in the same position before Ma, is currently under detention on suspicion of fraud in an influence-peddling case and has been indicted in connection with the Kaohsiung rapid transit scandal.

Ma was later released at about 6pm last night.

Before he walked into the hearing room, Ma reiterated that he was innocent.

"[Head of My Humble House Group] Tsai Chen-yang (蔡辰洋) did ask me to confirm whether the first family was involved in selling Sogo shares. That is all," Ma said. "Neither the first family nor I have anything to do with the case, as I have said many times before."

Tsai tried to buy NT$10 billion (US$306.7 million) worth of Sogo's shares in 2002. However, the former chief of Waterland Financial Holding Co, Walter Lin (林華德), told Tsai that he would not be able to make it because "high-ranking" personnel were involved and "requested" that the deal be suspended.

The shares were eventually sold to Pacific Distribution Investment Co chairman Lee Heng-lung (李恆隆). First lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) then allegedly accepted a huge amount of Sogo vouchers from Lee as a token of appreciation for the deal.

Ma admitted to prosecutors during earlier investigative hearings that he had asked Chen to arrange a meeting at the Presidential Office with Lee and Tsai. As a result, prosecutors asked Chen to face Ma during yesterday's cross-questioning.

In other news, Nice Group President Chen Jer-fang's (陳哲芳) brother, Chen Jing-yao (陳鏡堯), was released on NT$2 million bail. Chen Jing-yao was detained for allegedly issuing a NT$27 million check to President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) son-in-law, Chao Chien-ming (趙建銘), as "a token of appreciation" for Chao's help in aiding Chen Jer-fang win the leadership of Waterland Financial Holding Co last year.

Chen Jing-yao still denied the allegations when he walked out of the prosecutors' office yesterday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Prosecutor Lin Pang-liang (林邦樑) of the Taipei District Court said yesterday that the prosecution would decide whether or not to summon first lady according to the law.

Lin said the prosecution had summoned most witnesses or suspects in connection with a financial bail-out and ownership fight for the store and that it was now probing the flow of vouchers.

"Depending on the needs of the investigation, we will decide whether or not to summon Wu Shu-jen," Lin said.

As to media reports that the prosecutors may visit Wu's residence to conduct their questioning, Lin said it was too early to speculate how the prosecution would go about questioning Wu if it decides to do so.

"Every step will be followed according to the law, and what should be done will be done," he said.

Meanwhile, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday said: "There should not be any limitations or off-limits areas in the investigation. The prosecutors must find out the truth no matter who is involved."

Additional reporting by Mo Yan-chih
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