Former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) bookkeeper yesterday testified that she took cash from the presidential “state affairs” fund to the presidential residence at the request of former first lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍).
Chen Chen-hui (陳鎮慧) was appearing at the Taipei District Court as a defense witness. Former Presidential Office deputy secretary-general Ma Yung-cheng’s (馬永成) lawyer requested that she be called for questioning on her handling of money from the “state affairs” fund.
Ma and the former director of Chen Shui-bian’s office, Lin Teh-hsun (林德訓), are accused of helping the former first family embezzle NT$104.15 million (US$3 million) in government funds.
The two aides have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and say that because Chen Chen-hui was the former first family’s bookkeeper, she was responsible for accounting for money in the fund.
Chen Chen-hui told the court she would be given cash by the Presidential Office’s cashier that had been reimbursed from the fund. Wu would call her to instruct her to take the money to the presidential residence and that she would “do as she was told.”
Ma’s lawyer said Chen Chen-hui didn’t always keep records of when she handed the money to Wu and asked her why she didn’t request that Wu sign for the funds.
“How would I dare,” Chen Chen-hui replied.
The Democratic Progressive Party yesterday said that the court had violated Chen Shui-bian’s legal rights, adding that the reasons for detaining him “lack any legitimacy nor necessity.”
A hearing will be held today on whether the former president should continue to be detained.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY RICH CHANG
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