Former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) office yesterday issued a statement denying allegations that Chen had taken advantage of his overseas trips to transport cash abroad.
The statement came in response to a story published by the Chinese-language China Times yesterday that quoted Palauan President Johnson Toribiong as saying that an unidentified wire of NT$1.4 billion (US$40 million) was routed through Palau’s Pacific Savings Bank in 2005 to the US and other countries.
Amendments to the National Security Act (國家安全法) that impose higher sentences and fines on people spying for China or other nations, and increase restrictions on retired officials visiting China were yesterday passed by the legislature.
Those found recruiting others in Taiwan under instructions from the Chinese government would be subject to at least seven years in prison and a fine of up to NT$100 million (US$3.19 million) under the amendments.
