Taiwan ex-first lady again misses graft hearing

Wu Shu-chen, wife of ex-president Chen Shui-bian, asked for a leave of absence hours before her scheduled hearing at the Taipei District Court.

At her only appearance so far, to enter a not-guilty plea, she apparently fainted in the courthouse restroom.

Wu is charged with embezzlement and receipt forgery stemming from alleged misuse of T$14.8 million ($460,000) from a special government fund. Prosecutors are also investigating Chen, who stepped down in May due to term limits.

Court officials said they would reschedule Friday’’s hearing.

Probes into the affairs of the former president, his family and aides have hurt the image of the Democratic Progressive Party, which faces tense local elections in 2009. The former president and his wife left the party in August.

Chen has said he has done nothing wrong. (Reuters)