The wife of Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian on Friday asked to extend her leave from her trial on charges of graft, the fourth time she's been absent since fainting in court in December.

The fifth session of the high-profile trail opened in Taipei on Friday morning. Wu Shu-chen is accused of claiming personal expenses, mainly the purchase of brand-name clothes and jewelry, from special government funds controlled by her husband.

The allegations involve goods valued at more than 14.8 million New Taiwan dollars (US$ 448,500).

After fainting during the first session of her trial she was hospitalized and missed her next three court dates.

At Friday's session, Chen's key aide, Chen Tan-sun, and four other officials were fined 30,000 New Taiwan dollars each for failing to show up in court. They had been called to give evidence.

The court also rejected a prosecution request to search Chen Shui-bian's office, but ordered his office to release the controversial "secret documents" by Jan. 23, local media reported.

Chen was given till Monday to appeal the court order.

Prosecutors have been lobbying hard to be granted the right to search documents in Chen Shui-bian's office. Chen has argued the money came from a fund that was used for "secret diplomacy", and documents relating to the fund should be excluded from court proceedings for diplomatic reasons.

(Xinhua News Agency January 19, 2007)