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Taiwan First Lady's trial opens Taiwan first lady faints at trial
(about 2 hours later)
The wife of Taiwan's embattled president has fainted during her court appearance in Taipei, where she is on trial for corruption and forgery. The wife of Taiwan's embattled president has fainted during her court appearance in Taipei, where she is on trial for embezzlement and forgery.
Wu Shu-chen, who has used a wheelchair since she was hit by a truck in 1985, was taken to hospital after collapsing during a recess.Wu Shu-chen, who has used a wheelchair since she was hit by a truck in 1985, was taken to hospital after collapsing during a recess.
Mrs Chen denies illegally using an overseas fund for personal expenses. The first lady denies illegally using state funds for personal expenses.
Her husband, who is protected by presidential immunity, has promised to resign if she is found guilty. Her husband faces similar accusations but is protected from prosecution by presidential immunity.
Series of scandals He has promised to resign if she is found guilty.
Along with his wife and three former presidential aides, Mr Chen was indicted on charges of embezzlement last month but he has escaped prosecution despite opposition calls for his resignation. Under observation
He denies the misuse of state funds. Wu Shu-chen and her co-defendants all pleaded not guilty to charges of corruption, forgery and perjury when they appeared at court in the capital Taipei.
It was not clear if Mrs Chen would be able to return to court later on Friday to continue the trial. SCANDAL TIMELINE March 2004: President Chen narrowly wins re-electionMay 2006: President's son-in-law held over insider trading claims. Charged in JulyAllegations of improper conduct involving Chen's wife and senior aides also surfaceJune: Chen cedes some powers to PM amid outcryUnprecedented opposition motion to oust him, which failsSeptember: Two weeks of pro and anti-Chen marchesOpposition launch new bid to recall Chen. Again failsOctober: Wu Shu-chen cleared of accepting shop vouchers in return for influenceNovember: Wu Shu-chen charged with corruption over handling of secret presidential fundsProsecutors say enough evidence to indict Chen, but he is protected by presidential immunity
But 90 minutes after her arrival at court, during a recess, the first lady reported feeling faint. Television pictures showed her being rushed by ambulance to a nearby hospital.
A doctor at the hospital said she was suffering from an irregularly low temperature and slow heartbeat, but her condition was not life threatening, the Associated Press reports.
"We gave her some medicine, and her situation improved," said Lin Ho-hsiung of the National Taiwan University Hospital. "She is now under close observation. Her temperature and heartbeat are stable again."
The state of Wu Shu-chen's health had led to doubts over whether she would be fit enough to stand trial, the BBC's Caroline Gluck in Taipei reports.
It was not clear if the president's wife would be able to return to court later on Friday to continue the trial.
She faces a maximum sentence of seven years in prison if she is found guilty.She faces a maximum sentence of seven years in prison if she is found guilty.
The BBC's Caroline Gluck, in Taipei, said the trial is being seen as a test of the independence of the judiciary. Series of scandals
Our correspondent said that the state of Mrs Chen's health had led to doubts over whether she would be fit enough to stand trial. Taiwan's first lady and the three aides were indicted by prosecutors last month.
President Chen has been undermined by a series of scandals involving his family and his office in recent months.
He has already survived two opposition attempts, including one last month, to remove him from office.
Secret fund
The charges relate to the handling of a secret presidential fund used for diplomatic work overseas.The charges relate to the handling of a secret presidential fund used for diplomatic work overseas.
SCANDAL TIMELINE March 2004: President Chen narrowly wins re-electionMay 2006: President's son-in-law held over insider trading claims. Charged in JulyAllegations of improper conduct involving Chen's wife and senior aides also surfaceJune: Chen cedes some powers to PM amid outcryUnprecedented opposition motion to oust him, which failsSeptember: Two weeks of pro and anti-Chen marchesOpposition launch new bid to recall Chen. Again failsOctober: Wu Shu-chen cleared of accepting shop vouchers in return for influenceNovember: Wu Shu-chen charged with corruption over handling of secret presidential fundsProsecutors say enough evidence to indict Chen, but he is protected by presidential immunity President Chen has vowed to resign if his wife is found guilty
Officials say around US$500,000 could not be properly accounted for. Officials say around US$500,000 could not be properly accounted for, and accuse the president's family of using it for their own use.
During the four-month investigation, officials looked at six separate cases involving the use of the fund. Mr Chen has denied the allegations, and claims the use of false invoices was to cover expenses incurred in secret diplomatic programmes.
They said the president's explanation for two were verified, but three were questionable and one was described as pure fiction. The trial is being seen as a test of the independence of the judiciary, our correspondent says.
In November, the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Taiwan High Court announced it was filing charges of embezzlement and forgery of documents against Wu Shu-chen. President Chen has been undermined by a series of scandals involving his family and his office in recent months.
Mr Chen, whose term of office is due to run until 2008, has apologised for the scandals and did cede some powers to Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang in June to placate his critics, but has refused to resign. He has already survived three opposition attempts, including one last month, to remove him from office.
The scandals have brought tens of thousands of people - both supporters and opponents of the president - out on to the streets to voice their views. Earlier this week, another former presidential aide was sentenced to 12 years for accepting bribes.
Later this month, another court will deliver its verdict in a case of insider trading involving the president's son-in-law.