Chen also emphasized that the sources of the money were clean and legitimate "with no need of laundering."

money has been earmarked for public services and helping with the boosting Taiwan's external relations.

He subsequently voluntarily withdrew his membership from the DPP while the party's Taipei City Committee suspended the memberships of his wife, son, and daughter-in-law with a thorough probe into the case by the party headquarters.

DPP leaders said they are relieved now that Chen Chih-chung and his wife are coming back to help clear things up.

It would inflict tremendous damage to the party if the couple decided to in the United States as speculated by many in Taiwan.

But lawmakers of the ruling Kuomintang expressed pessimism in the outcome of the probe, claiming law enforcement agencies have lagged far behind in the investigation.

They suspected that many overseas trips made by Chen's son in the first eight months of the year could have fully covered the trails of the money flows with advice from international money managers.

The former family could have also been aided by senior officials in Taiwan, including Yeh Sheng-mao, former chief of the Investigation Bureau under the Ministry of Justice.

Yeh is currently under investigation for allegedly withholding vital information concerning the possible illegal financial operations of the family.

U.S. assistance

According to Jason Yuan, the Republic of China's representative to Washington, the U.S. authorities provided assistance to Taiwan in locating Chen Chih-chung and his wife, at the request of the ROC government. The young couple had been technically "missing" since their entry into the United States Aug. 9, he said.

A source at University of Virginia said Friday that since Taiwan prosecutors have subpoenaed Chen Chih-chung, he would probably return to face the probe because his student visa has been revoked and it would be illegal for him to remain in the U.S.

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