|
¡@
Chen Chu denies refusing to testify for
Chen Shui-bian
By Flora Wang
STAFF REPORTER
Thursday, Feb 25, 2010, Page 3
Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (òçÏÒ) yesterday rebutted a claim by a supporter of
former president Chen Shui-bian (òçâ©ø·) that she had deliberately refused to
testify in court in the former president¡¯s appeal.
In a written statement, Chen Chu said she was ¡°absolutely willing¡± to testify in
court for the former president and had never refused to appear in court.
The remark was made in response to Huang Yung-tien (笟çµï£), head of Tainan Friends
of Chen Shui-bian, a group supporting the former president, who told reporters
after visiting the former president at the Tucheng Detention Center on Tuesday
that Chen Shui-bian had complained about Chen Chu canceling two court dates
after his lawyers applied to the Taiwan High Court to summon the mayor as a
witness.
Chen Shui-bian has been detained since Nov. 12, 2008 for corruption and money
laundering accusation.br />
The former president complained of the indifference of politicians, Huang said.
LEAVE
However, Chen Chu said she had only asked for a leave of absence from the court
hearing scheduled on Jan. 29 because she needed to attend the ¡©Kaohsiung City
Council¡¯s extraordinary session in her capacity as mayor in an attempt to push
through the city government¡¯s fiscal budget request.
She added that she was ready to testify in court after the court later summoned
her again for another proceeding to take place on March 5, but she received a
notice on Feb. 6 from the court saying that Chen Shui-bian¡¯s lawyers had dropped
the application to have her as a witness.
¡@
|
