Former Taiwan "president" Chen Shui-bian said yesterday he had done nothing wrong after a prosecutor¹ questioned him for more than four hours about a bribery² case involving his family.

The family is suspected of depositing at least T$1 billion ($31.7 million) in banks in Japan, the United States, the Cayman Islands, Singapore and Switzerland, among other places, Taiwan media reported citing the Supreme³ Court prosecutor's office.

Chen, in office from 2000 to May 2008, denies any wrongdoing.

"There is absolutely no graft⁴, absolutely no stolen money," he told a news conference.

He said expenses exceeded revenues of about T$200 million in the "state affairs" fund, and that no money was laundered⁵ overseas.

"You can check it out," Chen said.

A lawyer by profession, Chen had made a push for the island's independence when in office.

A special Supreme Court prosecutor questioned Chen yesterday morning until he complained of feeling unwell, a spokesman told reporters.

The spokesman would not give details of the questioning, the third such session since Chen left office on May 20 after eight years in power.

Investigations⁶ into the affairs Chen and his family have tarnished⁷ the image of his Democratic Progressive Party, which faces local elections next year.

Chen has admitted "expatriating" $20 million, but claims the money came from unused campaign contributions - permissible⁸ under Taiwan's law at the time - and was intended to underwrite the island's "diplomatic work".

Chen and his wife, Wu Shu-chen, left the party on Aug 15.