FIRST LADY INDICTED ON CHARGES OF CORRUPTION
ROC Central News Agency
2006-11-03 17:37:27
Taipei, Nov. 3 (CNA) The Taipei Prosecutor's Office on Friday indicted first lady Wu Shu-jen and three other former and incumbent officials of the Presidential Office after a four-month investigation into alleged irregularities in the "state affairs fund" for the use of President Chen Shui-bian.
President Chen was also named along with the first lady on the corruption charges that they falsely claimed government funds using his official post, but he was immune from criminal charges under the Constitution and will not be prosecuted before he steps down from the presidency.
The indictment said that Wu "committed criminal deeds with one who holds public office." She was charged with forgery and corruption.
Ma Yung-cheng, a former deputy secretary-general to the president, was charged with forgery.
Two other presidential officials -- Chen Cheng-hui and Lin Teh-hsun -- were indicted on charges of forgery and perjury.
Tseng Tien-tsu, the Presidential Office's former bureau chief and currently vice chairman of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, and Lee Pi-chun, chairwoman of a pharmaceutical company, were given a two-year deferred prosecution.
The scandal came to light after opposition Legislator Chiu Yi revealed in mid-June that Ligi Lee, a cousin of Lee Pi-chun, turned her invoices for posh hotel expenses over to the first lady for reimbursement through the "state affairs fund."
(By Lilian Wu)
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