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Yeh says he hid tips about Chen

“Ever since I was detained, I have been asking myself how I could have been so naive.”

— Yeh Sheng-mao, former Bureau of Investigation director

Former Bureau of Investigation director-general Yeh Sheng-mao (葉盛茂) yesterday conceded to judges that he never informed State Prosecutor-General Chen Tsung-ming (陳聰明) of the money-laundering allegations involving the former first family.

Yeh apologized five times for what he had done and apologized to Chen.

“I admit that I said I had reported to him [Chen] because I didn’t dare face the potential repercussions ahead of me,” he told a Taipei District Court hearing when Judge Tseng Cheng-lung (曾正龍) encouraged him to tell the truth to protect his own credibility.

Yeh apologized five times during the session.

The former bureau head was indicted for allegedly leaking information in 2006 to then-president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) about tips the bureau had received regarding possible money-laundering by the first family.

“Please do not tell me that you did not know that what you did violated the law,” Tseng said. “Please, do yourself a favor. Tell the truth to defend your name.”

Yeh told judges that Chen Shui-bian had said the money was used for secret diplomatic missions. Yeh said he had to believe Chen Shui-bian because he was the president.

Yeh’s statement contradicted Chen Shui-bian’s account, with the former president insisting he did not know about the wired funds until January.

“I regret and feel sorry about all this. Ever since I was detained, I have been asking myself how I could have been so naive,” Yeh told judges.

The next hearing is scheduled for 9:30am on Oct. 22.
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