The wife of Taiwan authority leader Chen Shui-bian has had her membership in the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) suspended for 18 months, according to Taiwan-based media.

The "ruling party" of Taiwan disciplined Wu Shu-chen for her alleged involvement in embezzlement scandals that have rocked the DPP and the Taiwan authority leader Chen Shui-bian.

The decision was reached by the party's central review committee on Thursday after deliberation.

The same ruling was handed down to three former aides of Chen, Ma Yong-cheng, Lin Teh-shun and Chen Chen-hui, whom prosecutors have indicted along with Wu, local media reported.

Committee members, however, stressed that they believed in their innocence, and the memberships of those cleared by the courts would be reinstated.

Wu was indicted on Nov. 3 for her alleged involvement in the embezzlement of about 14.8 million New Taiwan dollars (448,500 U.S. dollars) from a special fund.

The three former aides of Chen were also charged.

Prosecutors said they had evidence to substantiate Chen's involvement but, as leader of the island, he had immunity from prosecution.

The central review committee was criticized for delaying its deliberation on the memberships of the four. It decided to deal with the case before the Dec. 9 mayoral elections.

Source: Xinhua