“The ministry has no right to seek to determine if an individual has foreign nationality unless the individual is proved to have engaged in illegal activities,” he said.
In related news, the University of Virginia confirmed yesterday that the former president’s son had received a student ID, but added that it had been revoked as he had failed to complete the enrollment process.
The university had initially said that although Chen Chih-chung had paid tuition, he had not completed the enrollment process and had consequently not been issued a student ID card. He did get a computer ID number, however, so he could have accessed the school’s Web site and selected his courses, school authorities said.
Chen Chih-chung, who returned from the US on Monday, showed his student ID to the media and expressed regret over the school’s rejection of his request to keep his application active.
He declined to comment on whether this may have been the result of politics, but said school authorities had told him that they were under pressure and suggested that he reapply next year.
School authorities yesterday apologized for the erroneous comments, claiming it had had insufficient information.
They denied, however, that they had caved in to pressure and said Chen Chih-chung could reapply next year.
School authorities confirmed that yesterday Chen Chih-chung called on Aug. 18 to notify staff of his absence during orientation. They told him that doing so would result in his losing his place in the program.
The couple were questioned by prosecutors on Monday afternoon. Prosecutors have barred the couple from leaving the country. The couple has refused to sign an authorization allowing prosecutors to look into Huang’s bank accounts in Switzerland.
Chen Shui-bian apologized on Aug. 14 for failing to fully declare his campaign funds and for wiring a large sum overseas, while denying he had embezzled money from the government or had been involved in money laundering.
He said his wife had been in charge of the couple’s finances and that he knew nothing about the transfers.
Chen’s office later said that more than US$20 million had been sent abroad.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY JENNY W. HSU AND FLORA WANG
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