Print

Mail

wiki links

Prosecutors deny planning to prevent Chen leaving nation

The Supreme Court Prosecutor’s Office yesterday denied a local media report saying prosecutors would prohibit President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) from leaving the country after he leaves office on May 20.

The office issued a press statement that said any investigation into Chen would start after May 19 and that prosecutors do not have any plans for an investigation at this time.

The Chinese-language Next Magazine reported yesterday that prosecutors from the Supreme Court Prosecutor’s Office’s Special Investigation Panel had decided to prohibit Chen from leaving the country after May 20.

The news report said Chen would be summoned to the Taipei District Court in the near future.

The Taipei District Prosecutors Office indicted first lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) in November 2006 on corruption and forgery charges in connection with the handling of the “state affairs fund.”

President Chen is also suspected of graft and forgery, prosecutors said, but could not be charged because of presidential immunity.

Prosecutors have said Chen would be charged with the same crimes after he leaves office.

Wu is suspected of pocketing a total of NT$14,800,408 (US$449,600) from the fund.

Prosecutors believe that Wu used receipts from a number of friends and family members to have personal expenses reimbursed from the fund between July 2002 and March 2006.

Wu’s case is being heard at the Taipei District Court — Wu attended the first hearing but has been absent since because of bad health.

The report said prosecutors from the Taipei District Prosecutor’s Office are proposing to prohibit Wu from leaving the country, but the district prosecutor’s office also denied the report yesterday.
This story has been viewed 1030 times.