Former president denies allegations

They are believed to be in the United States but have not been seen publicly since the scandal erupted. The former president reportedly told prosecutors Wednesday that his son and daughter-in-law would return to Taiwan next week.

Prosecutors from the SIU already searched the former first couple’s residence last week and questioned the wheelchair-bound Wu, whom Chen blames for remitting the money out of Taiwan without him knowing. It was uncertain whether the ex-president was present when the prosecutors arrived at their home again yesterday.

The TVBS cable channel said that Chen had a lunch gathering earlier with friends, during which he maintained his innocence. Repeating his public confession, he told his friends that the money was unused portions of his campaign funds and had nothing to do with corruption.

He also complained that his son was coming under such great pressure from the media’s dogging that he had to cancel his enrollment at a U.S. university.

The cable TV channel also cited prosecutors as saying that Swiss authorities have decided to freeze the money that the Chen family has in bank accounts in Switzerland indefinitely. The prosecutors are also trying to see whether the Chen family has hidden more than the sum they have admitted.

While Chen and his family have given up their DPP memberships, the party has refrained from officially condemning the former president.

An internal anti-corruption committee is now conducting the DPP’s own probe into the case. Until the probe is concluded, DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen remains cautious about the party’s relations with Chen.

The party’s initial response to Chen’s public confession to having hidden the money was shock, plus widespread condemnations from DPP members and supporters. But Chen’s supporters are now beginning to rally behind him, with many describing the investigation as a witch hunt by the KMT government.

The DPP is worried that the upcoming anti-government demonstrations, which the DPP will participate in, may provide opportunities for Chen’s die-hard supporters to show their backing for the ex-president.

At the same time, Tsai has to prevent the anti-Chen camps inside the party from engaging in an open clash with Chen supporters, the United Evening News commented.

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