Former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) office yesterday denied that former first lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) had asked for a day of sick leave before today’s court hearing on Chen’s corruption charges concerning his “state affairs fund.”
The office issued a statement saying that Wu’s legal team sent a letter to the Taipei District Court on Tuesday requesting the court determine jointly with the professional medical team of National Taiwan University Hospital whether Wu would be able to appear in court today.
The office said Wu’s health had worsened over the past week and it was necessary to consult with her doctor. The statement said the court did not respond to Wu’s letter but instead demanded Wu appear in court today.
The office made the remarks in response to a Chinese-language United Evening News report yesterday, which said Wu had asked for a day of sick leave but the court rejected her request, citing hospital authorities who said that Wu would not be in immediate danger if the trial does not last long.
The report also said Chen would accompany Wu to court and serve as her defense assistant. Chen’s office, however, denied the speculation.
Wu was indicted in November 2006 on corruption and forgery charges in connection with the use of Chen’s “state affairs fund.” Chen was declared a defendant in the case shortly after his presidential term ended on May 20 this year. Chen could not be charged earlier because of presidential immunity.
Huang Chun-min (黃俊明), spokesman for the Taipei District Court, yesterday said Wu has been summoned 18 times since the court began the hearing on Dec. 15 last year. Wu, however, only showed up for the first hearing and has since asked for sick leave 16 times.
Huang said that Wu’s physicians have said that Wu would be fine as long as the hearing was a brief one. The court would do its best to make it short, Huang said, adding that medical equipment and physicians would be standing by at the court during Wu’s appearance.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Ting Shou-chung (丁守中) yesterday said the Special Investigation Panel should arrest Wu if she fails to appear in court again today. KMT caucus secretary-general Chang Sho-wen (張碩文), on the other hand, was less critical of Wu, saying that he believed Wu knew “this was her only chance to prove her and Chen’s innocence.”
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY FLORA WANG
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