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First lady may be depressed, says Taipei prosecutor

Prosecutor Chang Hsi-huai (張熙懷), one of the prosecutors in the "state affairs fund" case, yesterday told reporters that first lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) "has an inclination to being depressed."

Chang made the remarks after the hearing.

He told reporters that in a document requesting permission for Wu's absence from yesterday's hearing, it mentioned that Wu "has an inclination to being depressed" and that "her spirit is not in good shape."

When asked about the comments, Wu's attorney Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said it was inappropriate to discuss Wu's health publicly.

Wu was absent from yesterday's session because of continuing poor health, the Taipei District Court said.

Wu has not returned to court since fainting from low blood pressure during its opening session on Dec. 15.

Wu remained in a hospital until Dec. 30, missing subsequent hearings on Dec. 22 and Dec. 29.

She also missed last week's session after doctors said her blood pressure was still unstable.

Meanwhile, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Gao Jyh-peng (高志鵬) said the first lady's health was in bad shape but added that, as far as he knew, her illness was not as serious as what had been reported.

"She is always under tremendous pressure," Gao said.

Gao asked the public to show their compassion to the first lady.

"She has been facing the accusations and pressure all alone. It would be difficult for an ordinary person already, needless to say the first lady who has been so sick," he added.

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus whip Tsai Chin-lung (蔡錦隆) said that his caucus had good reasons to question the excuses given by Wu and five other Presidential Office officials who didn't show up at the hearing yesterday.

The presidential officials will not testify because the case involves diplomatic and national security secrets, the Presidential Office said in a statement.

"Wu is sick? Tell you what, she'd be out and about pretty fast if you gave her coupons for Sogo," Tsai said at a press conference yesterday, referring to her alleged involvement in the Sogo voucher scandal.

Additional reporting by Rich Chang
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