Ex-first lady Wu Shu-chen made defendant in Nankang Hall case

Also on the list were Yu Cheng-hsien, former minister of the interior; Kuo Chuan-ching, president of Leader Construction Company; and eight university professors who were on a review panel for the NT$3.6 billion (US$200 million) hall in suburban Taipei.

Six others, including a broker and Yu’s two former top aides at the Ministry of the Interior, were also made co-defendants charged with helping Leader win the contract to build the hall in violation of the law.

Prosecutors have yet to indict all 17 suspects. Only one of them, the ex-interior minister, is under detention for further questioning.

Wu Shu-chen, who is standing trial for corruption, was charged with taking a NT$90 million bribe to help Kuo win the contract.

Yu was asked by the ex-first lady to reveal the names of the professors on the review panel, who approved Kuo as the contractor.

The ex-first lady cannot be arrested and detained due to poor health, however.

She was charged in November 2006 with misusing the “state affairs” fund under her husband’s control. Former President Chen Shui-bian was not indicted, for he was immune to prosecution, but was regarded as an unindicted co-defendant who would be formally charged upon leaving office.

Chen stepped down on May 20. Prospectors of the Special Counsel are still investigating his involvement in the misuse of the state affairs fund.

He was arrested on charges of forgery and money laundering on November 12 and has since been detained.

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