Annette Lu, former vice president, acquitted of corruption charges
Taipei (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Former vice president Annette
Lu (see photo)
and two of Chen Shuibian's
cabinet members have been declared innocent by
the court in Taipei for lack of
evidence on charges of corruption and falsification of documents.
Lu, Yu Shyi-kun, secretary general of the then President Chen,
and Mark Chen, a former foreign minister, were accused
in 2007 of abuse of office and use of
public money for personal expenses with false receipts.
Lu was Chen's deputy during 2000-2008 period, the woman to hold the highest public office in Taiwan. Human rights activist and
former political prisoner, Lu was briefly DPP (Democratic Progressive Party) candidate in presidential
elections this year, but then
withdrew.
According to the judgment, Lu and Yu did not
manipulate state funds, the
expenses incurred by them fell within the established budget ceiling and above the
amount both claimed.
From the beginning the DPP - to which the three acquitted belong - said that the charges
were "politically motivated" aimed at undermining the presidency of Chen Shuibian, hated by the community of businessmen and Beijing.
Chen Shuibian, also
accused of corruption, is serving a sentence of 17 years and
six months.
Yesterday, after the judgment, in a public statement, Annette Lu said that hers
is a case of "historical flaws" and "political
conflict".
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