Despite the presence of judges, lawyers and dozens of spectators, former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) shared a quiet moment with his wife, Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍), yesterday, the first since early last month.
The emotional get-together took place after both were called to the Taiwan High Court to answer questions in a retrial involving accusations that the former first couple embezzled secret diplomatic funds.
The former first couple appeared uninterested in their arguments in the case, which were read by their lawyers. Instead the two spent most of the court appearance with their heads down, engaged in quiet conversation.
A frail looking Wu, was heard telling the former president that he needed to dress more warmly. Before leaving, she was also seen giving Chen milk caramel candy.
Judges denied a request from the defense to give the couple more time together to discuss their case, part of the many legal proceedings in which the two have been embroiled since Chen stepped down in May 2008.
Wu told judges during the session that she hoped they would call on Chen to appear at court whenever she is also due to make an appearance in the future.
The two are expected to see each other again in the coming month as the court hears their arguments on other charges of bribery in relation to the construction of the Nangang Exhibition Hall and laundering money overseas.
Both Chen and Wu have already been sentenced to 17-and-a-half-year sentences in a separate case involving two other instances of bribery concerning a land transaction in Taoyuan County and helping former Taipei Financial Center Corp chairwoman Diana Chen (陳敏薰) secure a financial appointment.
After being upheld by the Supreme Court in November, the former president began serving his sentence at Taipei Prison on Dec. 2. It is not yet certain when Wu, wheelchair-bound and suffering from ill health, will begin serving her term.
Despite a recent report by the Chinese-language Next Magazine claiming that President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) told judicial authorities to keep Wu out of prison, Ministry of Justice officials said that procedure would be followed.
“Prosecutors have already received information on Wu’s health from her hospitals and will be making further arrangements with [Taichung Prison],” Minister of Justice Tseng Yung-fu (曾勇夫) said yesterday.
Yesterday’s proceedings came one day after Chen Shui-bian denied that he encouraged members of his staff, including former office director Lin Teh-hsun (林德訓) and former top aide Ma Yung-cheng (馬永成), to falsify evidence, responding to separate accusations from prosecutors.
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