台灣的新聞上了各大國外媒體的頭條，因為這些醜聞增加台灣的知名度，真的有點難堪，很難跟美國的同學說：台灣是個民主先進的地方，只是貪污很嚴重而已~~各位立法院同仁，辛苦了，Vincent加班的時候不要碎碎念啦~~
Taiwan’s scandal grows
Rowan Callick, China correspondent
November 04, 2006
THE wife of besieged Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian was charged yesterday alongside three former presidential aides with embezzlement, forgery and perjury to falsely obtain $600,000.
There was enough evidence to charge the President as well, said the Taiwan High Prosecutor’s Office, but his indictment would await the end of his second and final term in 18 months.
Wu Shu-chen, Mr Chen’s wife, was indicted for illegally claiming state funds. The corruption charge carries a minimum seven-year prison term.
Prosecutor’s office spokesman Chang Wen-cheng said both ”are linked in this crime”, which involves the handling of a secret presidential fund used to sustain Taiwanese diplomatic activity abroad.
”Prosecutors found that Wu and three other suspects jointly claimed 14.8million Taiwan dollars ($600,000) with false receipts ... between July 2002 and March 2006,” Mr Chang said in Taipei yesterday.
”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.”
Mr Chen’s former aides Ma Yung-cheng and Lin the-shun and his accountant Chen Chen-hui were also indicted on corruption and perjury charges over their role in the high-profile scandal that shook Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party.
There was no immediate comment from the Presidency on the indictment.
Former presidential official Tseng Tien-tse and businesswoman Lee Bi-chun were accused of perjury for stating that nine million out of the 14.8 million Taiwan dollars was used for diplomatic missions but those indictments were deferred pending further investigation, Mr Chang said.
Prosecutors questioned Mr Chen twice and his wife once during the four-month investigation into the alleged misuse of funds. They denied any wrongdoing.
A total of 276 people were questioned for allegedly providing the Chens with receipts for reimbursement from the funds meant for state affairs.
Members of the opposition said they suspected that much of the money had gone into the pockets of the President and his family.
Opposition leader and Taipei mayor Ma Ying-jeou called on the President to resign immediately following the indictment of his wife.
”Chen has lost the people’s trust and respect,” Mr Ma said.
”He cannot lead the country nor represent Taiwan internationally as he was buried by a string of graft scandals. He should step down immediately to avoid worsening social instability.”
Only last month, Ms Wu - confined to a wheelchair since an apparent assassination attempt by a truck driver on her and Mr Chen 21 years ago - was cleared of accepting bribes to help smooth the path for the transfer of ownership of an upmarket Taipei department store.
The new charges throw back into play the fate of President Chen, who had recently begun to look invulnerable even in the face of massive protests calling for him to resign over the swirling corruption allegations.
Shih Ming-the, the former chairman of President Chen’s Democratic Progressive Party, has organised rallies outside the presidential offices by up to 300,000 demonstrators dressed in red calling for the Chens to step down. But Mr Chen has insisted he will stay until his second and final term ends in May 2008.
On October 13, Taiwan’s parliament - controlled by the opposition Kuomintang or Nationalists - failed for a second time to muster the two-thirds majority needed to put a proposal to recall Mr Chen to a nationwide referendum.
Lin Chung-cheng, head of the Cabinet-level Financial Supervisory Commission and a former DPP legislator, was taken into custody on Tuesday by the Taipei District Court on charges of accepting bribes. Lin’s personal assistant Su Chun-ji was also detained.
And President Chen’s son-in-law Chao Chien-ming has been indicted for insider trading.
Premier Su Tseng-chang, who is widely viewed as the most likely DPP leader to succeed Mr Chen as president, said a week ago: ”Politicians should resign if they are involved in any form of corruption. This has always been my guideline as a politician.”
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20697867-2703,00.html
