A modern-day Jekyll and Hyde

A local business tycoon involved in the case called it “an amazing and amusing soap opera of AA class.” Douglas Hsu, chairman of the Far Eastern Group, vehemently denied an accusation from Chen's wife, former first lady Wu Shu-chen, who dropped a bombshell this week that Hsu was among a score of Taiwan's business magnates who have donated millions to her to gain special advantage.

It is a soap opera indeed. But it deserves a triple-A rating because it is also absurd. This could be a real-time, longest-running soap opera in Taiwan's history. If the episodes so far have been riveting, you ain't seen nothing yet. The trials have not yet begun. But the criminal investigations and pre-trial hearings have been “amusing and amazing” enough to make the viewers agog.

This week, at the pre-trial hearings at Taipei's district court, Chen Shui-bian stunned the country with a series of amazing revelations: Former president Lee Teng-hui and his pro-independence Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) received Chinese communist money totaling NT$200 million to NT$300 million; and President Ma had “intimate relations” with male entertainer and former ICRT DJ, Chocolate.

Chen's broadside was indeed amusing. To accuse Lee Teng-hui, the spiritual leader of Taiwan independence, of taking money from his archenemy is far-fetched at best, and ludicrous at worst. Anybody with a bit of horse sense would be amused.

Insinuating that President Ma engaged in homosexual activity with a black Canadian who was expelled from Taiwan for allegedly having venereal disease is simply uncouth. Chen told the court that during the 2008 presidential campaign, prosecutor Wu Wen-chung got hold of a DVD proving the relationship, but then pressured the “green camp” of Frank Hsieh, candidate for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), not to make the DVD public. It should come as no surprise that even many in the green camp think of this as vile.

Judging from the non-sequiturs he raised at the hearings, one cannot but wonder if Chen has a bit of sanity left. When asked by presiding judge, Tsai Shou-hsun, “do you think these are relevant to your case?,” he had the temerity to say “I do.” He denied categorically that he had done anything wrong, even if many key defendants in the case, including his wife and many of his henchmen, have pleaded guilty.

1|2|Next Page>>

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos Respond to this email