Taiwan has sought the help of international banks as part of its probe into an alleged money-laundering case implicating former president Chen Shui-bian and his family, a prosecutor said Tuesday.
Merrill Lynch & Co., Credit Suisse Group and ABN Amro Holding NV are among the banks that have pledged to assist the investigation, said a prosecutor who declined to be named.
"We are seeking assistance from the banks as witnesses," the prosecutor said, without elaborating.
When contacted by phone, Merrill Lynch spokeswoman Vicki Kwong said: "As in normal practice, Merrill Lynch is cooperating with authorities."
Taiwan launched a probe this month into alleged money laundering implicating the former first family, following similar moves by Swiss authorities.
Copies of Swiss documents obtained by a Taiwanese lawmaker showed Chen's son Chen Chih-chung and daughter-in-law Huang Jui-ching transferred 31 million US dollars to her Swiss bank accounts in 2007.
They were also suspected of laundering money by setting up companies in the Cayman Islands.
Prosecutors have named the couple and Chen Shui-bian, his wife and brother-in-law, as defendants in the case.
The ex-president has admitted that his wife wired 20 million US dollars abroad from his past campaign funds, but said she did so without his knowledge. He has denied any illegal activity.
His son and daughter-in-law have said they merely did their mother's bidding and were unclear about "the source or the background" of any transferred funds.
Chen, who left office in May, is already being investigated for allegedly embezzling 14.8 million Taiwan dollars (480,500 US) in special expenses while president, and his wife is on trial for corruption and document forgery in the same case.
Source: AFP
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