Ah-bian admits receiving coupons
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-09-07 07:14
Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian has for the first time admitted that he has used
other people's receipts to write off his official expenses and that his family
accepted free coupons from a local businessman to shop at the Sogo department
store, according to media reports from Taiwan.
Chen made the confession in Palau on Tuesday, but insisted he has never been
involved in illegal activities.
Palau, an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, is one of few foreign
countries and regions that have maintained "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan.
Some secret "diplomatic" work could not be conducted via Taiwan's "Foreign
Ministry", so he used special funds, referring to the public money he wrote off
with receipts he collected from other people.
Chen admitted to the practice after journalists bombarded him with questions.
All the money was been used for public purposes and none of the reimbursements
went into his own pocket, he said.
Chen declined to reply whether he would step down following this latest
admission of apparent financial malpractice.
Early this year, local procurators discovered a large number of receipts from
unclear sources and shopping coupons from Sogo.
In April, Chen's office declared that Chen would step down if he is found to
be using other receipts to write off official expenses and receiving Sogo
coupons.
In related developments, local media and people in Taiwan have urged Chen to
step down as he had threatened judicial departments and gone back on his own
words. Some local newspapers editorials called him a "rascal".
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