Taiwan's First Lady pleads innocent at graft trial

TAIPEI, Dec 15 (Reuters) Taiwan's First Lady pleaded innocent to corruption charges as a trial that could eventually force President Chen Shui-bian from office got under way today.

Wu Shu-chen, paralysed from the waist down following an accident in 1985, arrived at the Taipei District Court in a wheelchair amid a crowd of supporters and detractors.

A television report said she fainted in the courthouse and showed her being whisked from the building into an ambulance.

Wu was charged last month with embezzlement and receipt forgery stemming from her alleged misuse of 454,000 dollars from a special government fund.

Her indictment has hurt the president's image and hobbled the independence-leaning ruling party, which was formed 20 years ago on a populist clean government platform.

The indictment included charges against Wu and several of Chen's former and current aides, who are also on trial.

A prosecutor said in November he also had enough evidence to indict Chen for corruption if his status as president did not make him immune.

Chen, who has said the money was used for legitimate government business, has offered to resign if his wife is convicted. Chen was elected in 2000 and 2004.

In court, prosecutor Chang Hsi-huai accused Wu and the others of giving false information when questioned about expenses.

''They abused the fairness of the legal system,'' he said.

''What they said was all false.'' Reuters MQA VP1023