Taiwan? first lady, Wu Shu-chen, was cleared today of all wrongdoing by prosecutors in a scandal involving a department store in Taipei.
Family doctor Huang Fang-yan and former presidential secretary Chen Che-nan were also cleared of involvement in the takeover of the Sogo department store.
Lin Chin-tsun, Chief prosecutor of the Taipei District Public Prosecutors Office, said yesterday that there is no evidence to show that she was part of the Sogo case. On Tuesday Mr Lin says his office will not pursue the Sogo voucher case any further.
This outcome, although not unexpected, only shows that the ?illion Voices Against Corruption-Chen must go?campaign was right to take to the streets on Sept. 9, because Taiwanese judicial system once again failed to pursue truth and justice.
First of all, prosecutors concluded that because Wu had only spent 277,000NT$ in Sogo Vouchers, the case for her intervention in the multimillion takeover could not be made for such minimal amount in bribery. We believe it is absurd to conclude her innocence based on the amount of vouchers received, especially when 277,000NT$ represent only the amount she or her family members had spent, not the total received, which was not fully investigated nor revealed by the prosecutors.
Secondly, prosecutors claim because the first lady is not a public servant or official, a case of corruption or bribery cannot be made against her. Family doctor Huang used 2,190,500NT$ in Sogo vouchers. The investigation concluded it was not appropriate for him to accept vouchers as gifts, but since he is not a public servant either, it is not illegal. We believe this sets a terrible precedent in Taiwanese judicial system, because from now on, all government officials can use a family member or friend to accept bribes in exchange for favors and be cleared of accusations. The fact that both of them are not public servants should be the reason for further investigation to find out how illegal governmental interference are made in the SOGO ownership transaction, not the excuse to declare their innocence.
Thirdly, Lee Heng-lung, one of the six businessmen indicted today, had spent 14,820,000 NT$ in Sogo vouchers as gifts to build relationships with key players in the takeover. This means that over 12,200,000 NT$ of Sogo vouchers are still unaccounted for (former presidential secretary Chen Che-nan? wife had spent 103,500NT$ in Sogo vouchers according to the investigation), but all the same the prosecutors decided to close the investigation and declare innocence for Wu Shu-chen, Huang Fang-yan and Chen Che-nan. We cannot but to ask: What kind of investigation is this? We are not surprised, but yet again disappointed at the judicial system in Taiwan.
Let us remember a press release by the Presidential office dated April, 13, 2006. It clearly stated that the president will step down if any member of the first family had received SOGO vouchers from a list of 4 persons including Lee Heng-lung (press release available from website: http://www.president.gov.tw). Today, the judicial investigation has proven without a doubt that the first family did receive SOGO vouchers from Lee Heng-lung. President Chen should keep to his pledge and resign immediately.
Let us remember a press release by the Presidential office dated April, 13,
2006. It clearly stated that the president will step down if any member of
the first family had received SOGO vouchers from a list of 4 persons
including Lee Heng-lung (press release available from website:
http://www.president.gov.tw). Today, the judicial investigation has proven
without a doubt that the first family did receive SOGO vouchers from Lee
Heng-lung. President Chen should keep to his pledge and resign immediately
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