Taiwan Ex-First Lady Pleads Guilty

ZHANG:
Taiwans former first lady, Wu Shu-jen, pleaded guilty today in connection with a massive graft case embroiling her family. This is the first time she had showed up in court after missing 17 other court days over the past two years.

STORY:
Wu, who beamed and waved as she entered the Taipei District Court in a wheelchair, is charged with embezzlement and receipt forgery involving public funds.

Prosecutors added a money laundering charge in December.

She pleaded guilty to forgery and of accepting $2.2 million related to a suspected shady land use deal, but denied other graft charges.

The case involving Wu, her husband former president Chen Shui-bian, their family and his aides has hurt the image of the Democratic Progressive Party.

Former president Chen Shui-bian is in jail awaiting trial. His charges include embezzling T$104 million from a special fund, taking bribes of about $9 million related to a land procurement deal and accepting millions in kickbacks to help a contractor.

Wu's lawyers would not comment on Tuesday's court appearance, which was a preliminary hearing ahead of an expected full trial.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• ntd
• ntdtv
• news
• Taiwan
• Taipei
• District
• court
• Wu
• Guilty
• public
• funds
• Prosecutors
• Shui-bian
• Democratic
• Progressive
• Party
• trial