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Taiwan's ex-first lady in court | Taiwan's ex-first lady in court |
(1 day later) | |
A former Taiwanese first lady has pleaded guilty to money-laundering and forgery but denied embezzlement charges in a high-profile corruption case. | A former Taiwanese first lady has pleaded guilty to money-laundering and forgery but denied embezzlement charges in a high-profile corruption case. |
Wu Shu-chen said she had accepted a $2.2m (£1.5m) political donation in connection with a land purchase deal - not a bribe as alleged by prosecutors. | Wu Shu-chen said she had accepted a $2.2m (£1.5m) political donation in connection with a land purchase deal - not a bribe as alleged by prosecutors. |
She admitted charges of forging documents in a separate case but denied using the money for personal gain. | She admitted charges of forging documents in a separate case but denied using the money for personal gain. |
She is the wife of ex-president Chen Shui-bian, who was in office 2000-2008. | |
It was the first time Wu Shu-chen had appeared in court for two years. She was indicted in 2006 for allegedly embezzling 14.8m Taiwan dollars ($440,000) in public funds. | |
But she collapsed at the start of her trial later that year and has been excused from attending court sessions on health grounds. | |
Mr Chen, her husband, is currently in jail awaiting trial on the same charges. He has denied the accusations, saying they are politically motivated. | Mr Chen, her husband, is currently in jail awaiting trial on the same charges. He has denied the accusations, saying they are politically motivated. |
Last month Chen Chih-chung, the Chens' son, pleaded guilty to money laundering as did several other family members. | |
'Witch hunt' | 'Witch hunt' |
The case has hurt the image of the Democratic Progressive Party, which backed Mr Chen during his time in office from 2000 to 2008. | The case has hurt the image of the Democratic Progressive Party, which backed Mr Chen during his time in office from 2000 to 2008. |
Mr Chen has maintained his innocence throughout the investigation, insisting his political opponents are mounting a "witch-hunt" against him, and accusing the new administration of making him "a sacrifice to appease China". | Mr Chen has maintained his innocence throughout the investigation, insisting his political opponents are mounting a "witch-hunt" against him, and accusing the new administration of making him "a sacrifice to appease China". |
He has been a vocal and persistent critic of the new government's China policies since he left office. | He has been a vocal and persistent critic of the new government's China policies since he left office. |
His accusations have been denied by both the Chinese government and Taiwan's current President Ma Ying-jeou, of the Nationalist Kuomintang party (KMT). | |
Taiwan has been ruled separately from China since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, when the defeated Kuomintang retreated to Taiwan to create a self-governing entity. | Taiwan has been ruled separately from China since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, when the defeated Kuomintang retreated to Taiwan to create a self-governing entity. |
But Beijing sees the island as a breakaway province which should be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary. | But Beijing sees the island as a breakaway province which should be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary. |
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