Taiwan authorities leader's ailing wife urged to show in court

The wife of Taiwan authorities' embattled leader Chen Shui-bian was urged to attend her trial on graft charges after she missed on Friday her sixth court date since last December.

Wu Shu-chen passed out during the first session of her trial on December 15. She is accused of embezzlement, forgery and perjury, involving 14.8 million New Taiwan dollars (448,500 U.S. dollars). She has pleaded not guilty.

Chen is believed to have been involved but escaped immediate prosecution because as the island's leader he has immunity.

At Friday's trial, chief prosecutor Chang Hsi-huai questioned Wu's hospital records provided to the court in her application for leave from the court due to low blood pressure, according to local media.

The hospital document, which was almost the same as the one presented to the court at its last session on Feb. 2, did not show Wu's exact blood pressure, Chang said, adding that he hoped Wu would soon show up in court.

Prosecutors had sought the court's permission to obtain Wu's complete hospital files, local media reported. Wu has been confined to a wheelchair for years.

Friday's court session dealt with the more than 2,000 invoices which prosecutors say Wu used to claim refunds for personal expenditures from a special government fund.

Chang said the trials may concluded soon after the Chinese New Year, which falls on Feb. 18 this year.

Source: Xinhua