TAIPEI: Former "first lady" Wu Shu-jen was sentenced yesterday to nine months in prison for abetting false testimony by her family members.

In the High Court case, Wu's son Chen Chih-chung, her daughter Chen Hsing-yu and son-in-law Chao Chien-ming each received a three-month sentence for giving false testimony on Wu's instruction.

In addition, former chairwoman of the Taipei 101 tower, Diana Chen, was sentenced to eight months in jail for her involvement in the same case.

Wu was found guilty of prompting her son, her daughter and son-in-law to tell the court that the invoices Wu used to claim reimbursements from a "special state affairs fund" during her husband's "presidential" term were from the "first family's" spending for shopping and entertainment.

Wu and her husband, former "president" Chen Shui-bian, were convicted last year of embezzlement of the "state affairs fund".

It was found that Wu had collected invoices from her family members and used them to claim the reimbursements from the "Presidential Office special state affairs fund".

It was also later determined that she coached her children to tell investigators the invoices were from "public affairs spending".

In the ruling against Diana Chen, it was found that in April 2009 she gave court testimony that conflicted with her statements during the investigation of the former "president" and his wife.

In the District Court trial of the case last September, Wu was sentenced to one year in jail, while her son, daughter and son-in-law were each given six months, with Diana Chen receiving an 18-month sentence.

In response to the High Court ruling, Chen Chih-chung said although they were all given lighter sentences, the punishment was still "too heavy".

Chen Sui-bian, who has been in custody since December 30, 2008, and his wife have been given life sentences on charges of embezzlement of the state affairs fund, money laundering and corruption.

They have both denied the charges and appealed their sentences.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 02/04/2010 page2)