Prosecutors yesterday denied reports that former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) recently admitted using the presidential airplane to carry cash to Palau as part of his alleged money laundering.
The Chinese-language Apple Daily reported yesterday that investigators probing the former president’s money-laundering case questioned officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and national security agencies. These officials reportedly received instructions from the former president to prepare a certain amount of money to be converted into US dollars as part of Chen’s “classified diplomatic affairs.”
Staff working on the presidential plane reportedly told investigators they saw many suspicious suitcases and that their contents were unclear.
It was also reported that the former president told prosecutors during a recent secret questioning session that he carried NT$40 million (US$1.2 million) with him on the plane on a visit to Palau in September 2006.
The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office’s Special Investigation Panel (SIP) said yesterday in a statement that the Apple Daily report was false and unfounded. Prosecutors said they had not questioned the former president since they last visited him at the Taipei Detention Center on May 4.
The SIP said on Wednesday that it was not probing allegations that the former president deposited a large amount of cash in the National Development Bank in Palau during his visit three years ago. It hinted, however, that other investigative units were looking into the matter.
It remains unclear as to whether the allegations relate to NT$40 million or US$40 million, as different rumors continue to spread.
Chen, who left office last year, stands accused of embezzling public funds, money laundering, accepting bribes on a land deal, influence peddling and forgery.
Also See: Taiwan’s legal system and Chen
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
UNREASONABLE SURVEILLANCE: A camera targeted on an road by a neighbor captured a man’s habitual unsignaled turn into home, netting him dozens of tickets The Taichung High Administrative Court has canceled all 45 tickets given to a man for failing to use a turn signal while driving, as it considered long-term surveillance of his privacy more problematic than the traffic violations. The man, surnamed Tseng (曾), lives in Changhua County and was reported 45 times within a month for failing to signal while driving when he turned into the alley where his residence is. The reports were filed by his neighbor, who set up security cameras that constantly monitored not only the alley but also the door and yard of Tseng’s house. The surveillance occurred from July
A Japan Self-Defense Forces vessel entered the Taiwan Strait yesterday, Japanese media reported. After passing through the Taiwan Strait, the Ikazuchi was to proceed to the South China Sea to take part in a joint military exercise with the US and the Philippines, the reports said. Japan Self-Defense Force vessels were first reported to have passed through the strait in September, 2024, with two further transits taking place in February and June last year, the Asahi Shimbun reported. Yesterday’s transit also marked the first time since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office that a Japanese warship has been sent through the Taiwan
‘SAME OLD TRICK’: Even if Beijing resumes individual travel to Taiwan, it would only benefit Chinese tourism companies, the Economic Democracy Union convener said China’s 10 new “incentives” are “sugar-coated poison,” an official said yesterday, adding that Taiwanese businesses see them clearly for what they are, but that Beijing would inevitably find some local collaborators to try to drums up support. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remark ahead of a news conference the General Chamber of Commerce is to hold today. The event, titled “Industry Perspectives on China’s Recent Pro-Taiwan Policies,” is expected to include representatives from industry associations — such as those in travel, hotels, food and agriculture — to request the government cooperate with China’s new measures, people familiar with
RSS