Ex-MJIB chief arrested in court

Chen Shui-bian admitted part of the government contribution to his presidential campaigns was remitted abroad after Credit Suisse brought his alleged money laundering to light.

During the hearing, Yeh denied charges of dereliction of duty. "I did what I was expected to do as my duty," he insisted.

He claimed innocence because he was duty-bound to report all important investigations to the head of state. Chen Shui-bian was head of state, but not head of government according to the Constitution.

Constitutionally, however, the president of the republic directs the conduct of "affairs of national security." The court of law does not regard the reports on money laundering as an affair of national security, which should be classified top secret.

The government made a cash donation to presidential candidates, NT$30 per vote they collected in elections.

Wu Shu-chen, the former first lady, is standing trial for corruption, charged with borrowing receipts and invoices from friends and relatives, including members of the first family, to claim a NT$14.8 million reimbursement from her husband's "state affairs" fund.

Her husband was not indicted, because he was immune to prosecution then, but was regarded as an unindicted co-defendant who would be formally charged on leaving office.

Special Counsel prosecutors are winding up their investigation of the state affairs fund scandal and the money laundering.

Yeh was the fourth domino to fall in the legal war of anti-corruption against the former first couple.

The other three dominoes were Chen Cheng-hui, the first family's accountant-cashier; Tsai Ming-cheh, the ex-first lady's "special assistant;" and Lin Teh-hsun, former director of the secretariat of the Office of the President.

Toward the end of last month, prosecutors vowed to wind up their investigation to the satisfaction of the public. If not, they promised, they would resign en masse, though they did not say Chen Shui-bian would be indicted and tried. 

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