Wu, issuing a statement through her lawyer, denied that she had ever interfered with the government financial reform.

Wu was responding to claims that executives from the Yuanta financial group had delivered NT$200 million in cash to her asking that the government remain neutral over their attempts to take over a competitor.

Wu also dismissed allegations that she had her brother transport NT$740 million in cash to Yuanta in 2006 amid a massive campaign aimed at ousting her husband, Chen Shui-bian from the presidency for alleged corruption.

But the ex-first lady revealed that the Ma family controlling the Yuanta group did contribute NT$20 million to Chen for his 2004 re-election campaign, but her husband was not aware of the donation.

Her brother, Wu Ching-mao, freshly freed from custody, also denied that he had transported NT$740 million to Yuanta.

The claims were reportedly made by Tu Li-ping, a board member of Yuanta Securities, who was said to be one of two persons presenting Wu with NT$200 million at her presidential residence to seek support for the acquisition of Fu-Hwa Financial Holding.

Tu, who is being investigated in connection with corruption and money laundering charges against the ex-first family, reportedly alleged that she drove Wu Ching-mao to the Yuanta office without knowing he was on a mission to deliver NT$740 million.

Earlier yesterday, the former first lady's lawyer, Lee Sheng-hsiung, questioned Tu's claims.

"Do you believe that witness?" Lee asked in response to reporters' requests for comments on the Yuanta businesswoman's allegations.

He warned against jumping to conclusions because of one-sided claims.

In Tainan, Wu Ching-mao returned to his home after posting NT$2 million bail Friday that ended more than 50 days of detention in a Taipei jail.

The brother, who has admitted to offering his bank accounts for the former first family to conduct transactions, said he would not have helped his sister if he had been able to turn the clock back.

He claimed he had never taken a single dime from any of the cases being investigated. But he declined to reveal details of cases.

Wu, taken into custody on Oct. 7 on suspicion of helping his sister wiring large sums of cash overseas, is still required to report to the authorities any change in his residence and is barred from leaving the country.

He is the latest suspect in the ongoing probe to have been freed on bail; his brother-in-law, former President Chen, remains in custody.

Chen has ended his hunger strike, which he had staged to protest what he claims to be politically motivated charges against him and his family.

He resumed eating Thursday, but on Friday he told the doctor he had diarrhea, according to an official, Lee Ta-chu, at the Taipei Penitentiary.

But Chen yesterday said his condition had improved after taking medication, Lee reported.

Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Division of the Supreme Prosecutor Office invited officials from various government bodies to help examine documents and other items it has seized from Chen, according to the Central News Agency.

Some of the items seemed to be classified documents belonging to the National Security Bureau and Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau, the CNA said.

The SID was asking the officials to help verify the authenticity of the documents, the CNA said.

The officials were from the Presidential Office, Cabinet, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Central Bank of China and others, it reported.