Wanted businessmen may return to testify in Chen corruption case

Chen Yu-hao, listed as one of the country's most wanted fugitives, may return to Taiwan to stand trial for allegedly embezzling one of the companies in the now collapsed Tuntex Group that he had headed, according to media reports.

His allegations about former first lady Wu Shu-chen taking huge sums from him had almost cost the ex-president's reelection campaign in 2004.

Kung Chin-yuan, believed to be one of the ex-leader's chief sources of campaign funding, has not returned to Taiwan after he was named to have played a part in former president Chen's alleged theft from the presidential expense account.

But now Kung is said to be planning to return, the United Evening News reported.

The reports come after other high-profile fugitives have returned to Taiwan, including Jeffrey Koo, Jr, a former vice chairman of the Chinatrust Financial Holding; and Liu Jia-chang, a famous music composer.

Koo, wanted for alleged insider trading, came back earlier this year to help with prosecutors' probe in the ex-president's case after staying in Japan for about two years.

Koo, a key witness on the prosecution's side, has been allowed to travel freely.

Liu, charged with cheating the ruling Kuomintang out of NT$600 million, last week came back to Taiwan from Hong Kong where he had been for years.

He was arrested upon his arrival, but was later granted bail and allowed to go back to Hong Kong.

The Special Investigation Division (SID) in charge of the ex-president's case said they would welcome the Tuntex tycoon's return.

The Taipei District Court issued a warrant for the arrest of the Tuntex tycoon in April 2003 after he defied its order to appear in an embezzlement trial involving more than NT$885 million. He had already left Taiwan at the time.

The tycoon, claiming that the embezzlement charges resulted from political persecution by Chen Shui-bian, made explosive accusations ahead of the 2004 presidential campaign.

He claimed he had donated large sums to Chen during the latter's stint as Taipei mayor between 1994 and 1998.

He said he delivered the money in person to Wu, witnessed by former Legislator Shen Fu-hsiung, who was then a member of the Democratic Progressive Party.

Shen, in response to the tycoon's claims, gave an ambiguous reply that neither confirmed nor denied them.

Chen Yu-hao hopes to come back to Taiwan so that he can have a chance to clear his own name, the United Evening News said.

The paper also said Kung's return may help trace the whereabouts of some of the funds from the former president's presidential expense account.

Chen had named Kung as a major party receiving funding for his help in a secret diplomatic case called the “South Line Project.”

But Chen has now claimed that the “South Line Project” never existed, and that he just made it up and named Kung as a party so as to cover up a real secret diplomatic mission called “Project J.”

The former Legislator Shen, who has now quit the DPP, said he has not been in touch with the Tuntex tycoon for a long time.

He said the tycoon is unlikely to have a significant role in the ex-president's case.

DPP lawmakers said in an ironic tone that all fugitives should be given a warm welcome by the KMT.

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