A former aide of detained former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) pleaded guilty in court yesterday to some of the charges against her in cases of alleged corruption and money laundering involving the former first family.
Chen Chen-hui (陳鎮慧) told presiding Judge Tsai Shou-hsun (蔡守訓) that she admitted to charges of perjury and forgery in her handling of Chen Shui-bian’s “state affairs” fund. She told the court she made mistakes under the direction of her superiors, and asked the court to forgive her. However, Chen Chen-hui said that she had not engaged in corruption or money laundering
Prosecutors said that NT$104.15 million (US$3.1 million) was embezzled from the “state affairs” fund during Chen Shui-bian’s eight years in office. Prosecutors allege that more than NT$27 million of that was obtained using “inappropriate receipts” to claim reimbursements from the fund.
The balance, or more than NT$76 million, was claimed as “secret funds” and given to former first lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) to pay for the family’s living expenses and other uses, prosecutors said.
Chen Chen-hui was also charged with helping to transfer money into overseas accounts of the former first family and receiving bribes for her services.
She pleaded innocent on those accounts yesterday, saying she transfered money under Wu’s instruction and she did not know where the money was from. Chen Chen-hui also denied receiving bribes.
Her lawyers yesterday asked the court to arrange a confrontation with Chen Shui-bian, Wu, former Presidential Office deputy secretary-general Ma Yung-cheng (馬永成) and the former director of Chen’s office, Lin Teh-hsun (林德訓), during the trial.
Chen Shui-bian, his wife, son and daughter-in-law were indicted on Dec. 12 on charges of corruption, money laundering, embezzlement and forgery.
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