WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Chen forfeited a New York condominium and residence in Virginia that the United States alleged were purchased with the proceeds of bribes paid to his family.
"This is part of an ongoing effort by HSI [Homeland Security Investigations] to identify and seize illegal assets in the United States obtained by corrupt foreign leaders who abuse our financial systems in order to conceal the illicit proceeds of their crimes," HSI Executive Associate Director Peter Edge stated.
According to court documents, Yuanta Securities Co. Ltd. paid approximately $6 million in bribes to Chen’s wife, then-First Lady Wu Shu-Jen, to ensure the president’s support for the company.
Chen is accused of using shell companies and offshore bank accounts to funnel the bribe payments.
The United States government seized both properties under the US civil asset forfeiture process and sold them for approximately $1.5 million, which is being returned to Taiwan, the Justice Department noted.
In 2009, the former ruling couple was convicted on bribery charges. Chen was sentenced to 19 years in prison, but was granted medical release in 2015.
