Chen Shui-bian's son and daughter-in-law questioned

By Wu Jiao (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-11-15 09:11

Prosecutors in Taiwan on Friday questioned the son and daughter-in-law of jailed former Taiwanese leader Chen Shui-bian in connection with his graft case.

Chen Chih-chung, son of former Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian, and his wife Huang Jui-ching walk into the prosecutor's office in Taipei on November 14, 2008. [Agencies]

Chen, the subject of a complex investigation, was put in custody on Wednesday after a marathon court hearing concluded there was enough evidence to hold him for an unspecified period of time to prevent him from colluding with alleged co-conspirators.

Taiwan law permits suspects to be jailed for up to four months without formal indictments being brought against them.

On Friday, prosecutors questioned Chen Chih-chung, the former leader's son, and daughter-in-law Huang Jui-ching about their possible roles in the case. After four hours the couple was released. There was no additional information on the content of the inquiry.

The Chen family is suspected of sending at least NT$1 billion ($30 million) to Japan, the US, Cayman Islands, Singapore, Switzerland and other places, media reports said, citing the "supreme court" prosecutor's office. Two of Chen's senior advisors have also been arrested in connection with the case.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, a Taiwan court upheld the seven-year jail term handed down to Chen's son-in-law Chao Chien-ming for using insider information to purchase stock in the Taiwan Trust and Development Corp.