Taiwan Quick Take: Presidential Office repaid

President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) daughter Chen Hsing-yu (陳幸妤) has reimbursed the Presidential Office for money paid for the salary of the first family's housekeeper Lin Hsiu-jen (林秀貞) since October 2001, when she and her husband moved into the Chen family's Minsheng Rd apartment after their marriage. Presidential Office Spokesman David Lee (李南陽) said that Chen Hsing-yu paid about NT$2 million (US$62,500) to the office's accounting section last week and the money has been transferred to the treasury. The Presidential Office has been accused of improperly using taxpayers' money to pay for domestic help for the first daughter's family. Bowing to mounting pressure, Lin -- better known to the public as Auntie A-ching (阿卿嫂) -- resigned as an employee of the Presidential Office on Aug. 1. The office reiterated that Lin's employment had been legal, but the president would start paying Lin using his own money.