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Investigation office could keep cases

The nation's top prosecutor said yesterday that the prosecutors who indicted first lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) and former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) could be allowed to continue their probes into the alleged misuse by members of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of special allowance funds even after a special investigation team is established under his authority.

State public prosecutor-general Chen Tsung-ming (陳聰明) made the remark in response to questions from reporters.

Prosecutor Eric Chen (陳瑞仁) of the Black Gold Investigation Center of the Taiwan High Court Prosecutors' Office had told reporters he was concerned that investigations of the DPP politicians would be transferred to Chen Tsung-ming's investigation team, which was expected to be formed in a month.

Eric Chen said he and other prosecutors had been working hard on the investigations, but would be unable to close the cases within a month.

Eric Chen that said he was concerned switching prosecutors could lead to controversy because the investigation standards could differ from those used in the investigations of Ma and the first family.

Eric Chen launched the probes after KMT Legislator Tseng Yung-chuan (曾永權) and other KMT legislators late last year filed a lawsuit asking prosecutors to investigate the use of special allowance funds by Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun and former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) -- the DPP's candidate in December's Taipei mayoral race.

Eric Chen and Hou Kuan-jen (侯寬仁), another prosecutor from the center, indicted Wu on corruption and forgery charges in connection with the handling of the presidential office's "state affairs fund," and indicted Ma on corruption charges for suspected misuse of his mayoral special allowance fund.

The indictments have had a resounding effect on the nation's political scene.

Ma's indictment led him to resign as KMT chairman and prompted the KMT to change charter rules that would have suspended his membership.

The results of probes into the DPP politicians could have an impact on their candidacy in the party's presidential primary.

Chen Tsung-ming is selecting prosecutors to form the investigation team. Eric Chen has said he will not join the team because he would like to see other prominent prosecutors take responsibility.
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