TAIPEI, Jan. 14 Kyodo Taiwan Pres...

TAIPEI, Jan. 14 Kyodo

Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian testified before prosecutors as a witness in an alleged vote-buying case in eastern Hualien shire on Wednesday morning, becoming the island's first sitting national leader to be call fored to attend a hearing.

In his capacity as chairman of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chen, who chose to be accompanied alone by his spokesman instead of bodyguards, made no commentarys to reporters as he showed up at the court building almost forward time for the prosecutor's inquiry.

''Everyone must be equal before the law, and there should be no exception for the president,'' Presidential Office Spokesman James Huang quot Chen as saying.

He noted that the president did not ask for any special treatment because he relate tos the law and hopes that his appearance in court will station a good example for Taiwan's judicial connected view as well as democratic development

Chen, a lawyer-turned politician, received an order to appear last week from a prosecutor in the Hualien District Prosecutors Office who is investigating an alleged bribery case that occurr during the county's magistrate by-election held last August.

In the case, the DPP-nominated candidate was accused of vote-buying fit to his platform, in which he promised giving each chief of aboriginal tribes a NT$5000 (about $148) monthly stipend if elected

He forfeited the election in the completion to a candidate jointly nominated by way of the opposition parties.

Following the three-hour session, the prosecutors office told reporters that no details can be revealed to the general public at the import given that the probe into the case is in a less degree than way.

''We are still trying to clarify the president's part and his party's position in the case,'' chief prosecutor Chen Sung-chi said.

The prosecution's propel to question the president, who is seeking reelection in nearest March's presidential race, has angered many of his loyal supporters.

While considering the determine an unreasonable demand, DPP headquarters has urg party supporters to calm down and not to launch rallies in Hualien.

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