The Presidential Office will decide today whether or not to make available to the Taipei District Court documents relating to President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) controversial "state affairs fund," part of which Chen claims to have spent on secret diplomatic projects.
The Presidential Office issued a statement yesterday morning, saying that it was still in the process of soliciting opinions from legal, judicial and administrative experts before deciding whether or not to comply with the court's request.
The district court on Friday rejected a request filed by prosecutors to seize documents allegedly relating to the president's secret diplomatic projects. It, however, ordered the Presidential Office to submit the documents to the court by noon today.
PHOTO: SAM YEH, AFP
Deputy Presidential Office Spokesman Cho Chun-ying (卓春英) said yesterday that the legal experts with which the Office was consulting did not include members of first lady Wu Shu-jen's (吳淑珍) legal team.
Wu was indicted on embezzlement, forgery and perjury charges in connection with Chen's alleged misuse of the fund.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucus has requested that the Council of Grand Justices rule on the constitutionality of prosecutors' questioning of the president over his alleged misuse of the fund.
The Taipei District Court, however, ruled on Friday that prosecutors did not violate the Constitution by questioning Chen and that Wu's trial can continue.
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