By Ho Ai Li , Taiwan Correspondent

TAIPEI: A Singaporean charged with forgery and making false claims in Taiwan's most bizarre diplomatic scandal in recent years told a court he was not familiar with its laws.

Wu Shih-tsai, 55, made his final defence in court yesterday against charges of forging a document last year to mislead officials into believing that US$29.8 million (S$43.8 million) in government funds meant to help Taiwan set up diplomatic ties with Papua New Guinea were still in an OCBC account in Singapore.

The account was set up in his name and that of businessman Ching Chi-ju, who holds an American passport.

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