Print

Mail

wiki links

First lady back in hospital

President Chen Shui-bian, center, holds hands with Democratic Progressive Party legislators Hsu Kuo-yung, left, and Tien Hsin at a rally in Taipei yesterday. PHOTO: CHANG CHIA-MING, TAIPEI TIMES

First lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) checked into a hospital yesterday after developing a minor lung inflammation, the Presidential Office said last night.

Presidential Office Spokesman David Lee (李南陽) said Wu had come down with a cold and a blood test conducted yesterday had shown that she had developed a minor lung inflammation.

At the recommendation of the medical team, Wu checked into National Taiwan University Hospital at 6:30pm, Lee said.

The wheelchair-bound Wu was paralyzed from the waist down and confined to a wheelchair after she was hit by a van in 1984.

Wu has made rare appearances in the media since the corruption charges against her, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and his close aides last year. Wu was last seen in public in December last year when she almost collapsed during her first trial on corruption and forgery charges.

Wu was accused of illegally claiming personal expenses of NT$14.8 million (US$454,000) from Chen's "state affairs fund." The opposition has accused Wu of faking the severity of her illness to prolong the trial and allow her husband to serve out his term.

While campaigning for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative candidates in Taipei earlier yesterday, President Chen said Wu had developed a fever and was being fed intravenously.

The president also exhibited symptoms of a cold.

Braving cool weather and a sore throat, the president told the campaign rally he did not mind the inconvenience and intended to visit every constituency during the remaining two weeks of the campaign.
This story has been viewed 1247 times.