S'pore helps Taiwan in graft probe
Monday, September 22, 2008
SINGAPORE is assisting Taiwan with its investigation into money laundering allegations against former president Chen Shui-bian and his family, the United Daily News said yesterday.
Singapore has given Taiwanese investigators information on the family's 10 bank accounts in the city state, the paper said.
"Through the justice ministry and foreign ministry, Singapore's responsible units have provided us with relevant information," Chen Yun-nan, spokesman for the special investigation unit, told reporters.
"They should be helpful in our investigation into the case."
A Taiwanese prosecutor flew to Singapore last month to seek the assistance of authorities there.
Earlier reports said prosecutors would probe claims that the Chen family had transferred funds to Switzerland via the Singapore bank accounts of the ex-president's brother-in-law Wu Ching-mao.
Chen Shui-bian, his wife, son, daughter-in-law and brother-in-law have all been named as defendants in the case.
The ex-president has admitted his wife wired 20 million US dollars ($28.5 million) abroad from his past campaign funds, but said she did so without his knowledge. He has denied any illegal activity.
His son and daughter-in-law have said they did their mother's bidding and were unclear about "the source or the background" of any transferred funds.
Chen, who left office in May, is already being investigated for allegedly embezzling 14.8 million Taiwan dollars ($480,500) in special expenses while president, while his wife is on trial for corruption and document forgery.AFP
Singapore has given Taiwanese investigators information on the family's 10 bank accounts in the city state, the paper said.
"Through the justice ministry and foreign ministry, Singapore's responsible units have provided us with relevant information," Chen Yun-nan, spokesman for the special investigation unit, told reporters.
"They should be helpful in our investigation into the case."
A Taiwanese prosecutor flew to Singapore last month to seek the assistance of authorities there.
Earlier reports said prosecutors would probe claims that the Chen family had transferred funds to Switzerland via the Singapore bank accounts of the ex-president's brother-in-law Wu Ching-mao.
Chen Shui-bian, his wife, son, daughter-in-law and brother-in-law have all been named as defendants in the case.
The ex-president has admitted his wife wired 20 million US dollars ($28.5 million) abroad from his past campaign funds, but said she did so without his knowledge. He has denied any illegal activity.
His son and daughter-in-law have said they did their mother's bidding and were unclear about "the source or the background" of any transferred funds.
Chen, who left office in May, is already being investigated for allegedly embezzling 14.8 million Taiwan dollars ($480,500) in special expenses while president, while his wife is on trial for corruption and document forgery.AFP
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