A Supreme Prosecutors’ Office Special Investigation Panel questioned former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday for a second time concerning the “state affairs fund.”
“During the session, prosecutors questioned Chen about evidence in the case,” panel spokesman Chen Yun-nan (陳雲南) said.
The spokesman said the former president, accompanied by three lawyers, arrived at the panel’s office at 2:30pm for questioning.
PHOTO: FANG PIN-CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
This was the first time prosecutors had questioned Chen Shui-bian since President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) ordered last Wednesday that documents related to the case be declassified.
Chen Yun-nan said the session was chaired by prosecutors Lin Che-hui, Lee Hai-lung (李海龍) and Chou Shih-yu (周士榆).
The prosecution named the former president a codefendant when his wife Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) was indicted on corruption and forgery charges on Nov. 3, 2006. Wu is accused of using receipts provided by others to claim reimbursements totaling NT$14.8 million (US$490,000) from special allowances for state affairs between July 2002 and March 2006.
The former president has said that none of the money went into his pocket, adding that the confusing accounting system that governs Presidential Office expenses made it necessary to use outside receipts to get money from the discretionary fund to finance secret diplomatic missions abroad.
On July 24, Chen Shui-bian told prosecutors that national security should be held above all, including justice.
About 80 police officers helped secure the panel’s office prior to the former president’s arrival yesterday. The Taipei Police Department’s Chungcheng First Precinct said that the National Security Bureau did not request any help until 11:30am. The extraordinary call requesting help at the scene created chaos at the precinct as there were not enough available officers.
Speaking after the questioning, Chen Shui-bian reiterated his innocence and told reporters that “whichever way one looks at it, I did not embezzle [anything] nor had the intension to do so.”
Chen Shiu-bian said Ma’s mayoral allowance fund was like his “state affairs fund,” in that it was to be used for work-related matters in accordance with the law.
“There are certain things I can’t speak freely about or make public,” Chen said, in reference to national security.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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