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Taiwan first lady on graft charge Taiwan's Chen hit by graft charge
(30 minutes later)
The wife of Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian has been charged with corruption over misuse of state funds. Taiwanese prosecutors say they have enough evidence to charge President Chen Shui-ban with corruption - but he is protected by presidential immunity.
Prosecutors said they believed President Chen himself was involved, but that he was protected from prosecution by presidential immunity. They have filed corruption charges against first lady Wu Shu-Chen and three former presidential aides over the alleged misuse of state funds.
First lady Wu Shu-chen and three former presidential aides are accused of falsely claiming nearly $500,000 of funds intended for national affairs. Taiwan's opposition immediately called for the president's resignation.
She has previously denied any wrongdoing. President Chen has been undermined by a series of scandals involving his family and his office in recent months.
Prosecutors say the charges relate to the handling of a secret presidential fund used for diplomatic work overseas. He has already survived two opposition attempts to remove him from office.
They found that "Wu and three other suspects jointly claimed 14.8m Taiwan dollars (US$448,484) with false receipts from the national affairs funds between July 2002 and March 2006," Chang Wen-cheng, of the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Taiwan High Court, said. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party said it was meeting on Friday evening to discuss the latest developments.
Mr Chang said Wu Shu-chen was facing charges of embezzlement, the forgery of documents and perjury. Secret fund
The Public Prosecutor's Office of the Taiwan High Court announced it was filing charges of embezzlement, forgery of documents and perjury against Wu Shu-chen.
The first lady has previously denied any wrongdoing.
President Chen has refused to resign over the scandals
The charges relate to the handling of a secret presidential fund used for diplomatic work overseas. Officials say around US$500,000 could not be properly accounted for.
"Prosecutors found that Wu and three other suspects jointly claimed 14.8m Taiwan dollars (US$448,484) with false receipts... between July 2002 and March 2006," Chang Wen-cheng, of the prosecutor's office, said.
"Evidence also showed Chen is suspected of graft and forgery... but since he is protected by constitution against criminal charges, he can only be prosecuted after he leaves office."
The three former presidential aides also being indicted on corruption and perjury charges were named as Ma Yung-cheng, Lin Teh-shun and the president's accountant Chen Chen-hui.The three former presidential aides also being indicted on corruption and perjury charges were named as Ma Yung-cheng, Lin Teh-shun and the president's accountant Chen Chen-hui.
Mr Chang said the prosecutor had determined that President Chen himself was "involved with the crimes of corruption and faking of documents".
But he said "we must wait until the president is recalled or finishes his term before we can pursue further investigation".
UnderminedUndermined
President Chen has been seriously undermined by a series of scandals to hit the presidential office in recent months. Ma Ying-jeou, of the opposition Nationalist Party, said Mr Chen must resign as soon as possible.
"He has lost the people's trust and respect, and as he is burdened with scandals, he can no longer lead the people nor effectively represent the country," he said.
There was no immediate comment from the presidential office.
President Chen has been facing growing calls for his resignation in recent months over the scandals to hit his family and office.
Last month, Wu Shu-chen was cleared of accepting vouchers from a department store in return for her influence.Last month, Wu Shu-chen was cleared of accepting vouchers from a department store in return for her influence.
In May, her son-in-law, Chao Chien-ming, was arrested and later charged with insider trading.In May, her son-in-law, Chao Chien-ming, was arrested and later charged with insider trading.
Mr Chen, whose term of office is due to run until 2008, has apologised for the scandals involving his family and officials but has refused to resign. Mr Chen, whose term of office is due to run until 2008, has apologised for the scandals but has refused to resign.
He survived two parliamentary attempts by the opposition Kuomintang to remove him from office.