Lawyer to be probed for indiscretion

Tu tried to commit suicide Saturday night, one day after she had testified against former first lady Wu Shu-chen, who is under investigation for laundering at least NT$940 million (US$29 million). Asked at a Legislative Yuan committee meeting, Wang said she had talked to Chen Tsung-ming, procurator-general, about the safety of Tu, who was released on bail after the questioning by the Special Counsel Friday night.

“I believe,” Wang said, “better protection should be given Tu.”

Chen Yun-nan, spokesman for the Special Counsel, said he understands Tu, a Yuanta Securities board director under investigation as a defendant, has been “under great pressure.”

“If she asks for protection,” Chen said, “police protection will be made available.”

Pressure was brought to bear on Tu after Tan told the press his client had admitted to the Special Counsel she had seen to it that at least NT$200 million (US$6 million) in cash was carried to the official residence of President Chen Shui-bian in 2005. Tan also revealed to the press his client, together with President Chen’s brother-in-law and a couple of helpers, had NT$740 million (US$22.43 million) transferred from a bank to a safety deposit room at the Yuanta Financial Holding company in October 2006.

“He shouldn’t have done that,” Wang told lawmakers. She said he broke the code of conduct for lawyers. But it’s not up to the justice ministry to mete out punishment to lawyers for their breaches, Wang said.

“Prosecutors and the Taipei Bar Association should look into Tan’s breaches and take due punitive action,” Wang pointed out. Tan may be disbarred.

His client told Special Counsel prosecutors the former first lady asked her to have the cash transferred, when Shih Ming-teh’s March of One Million was demanding that President Chen step down to take responsibility for a series of corrupt activities involving his wife.

Indicted for corruption in November 2006, Wu is standing trial. She denied she had entrusted her confidante with transferring the money, which is believed to have been laundered either in Japan or the United States.

A timely rescue foiled Tu’s suicide attempt in Wugu, some five miles southwest of Taipei.

Tu first took an overdose of sleeping pills and then piped in exhaust gas from her car to try to kill herself on the driver’s seat.

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