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Hsieh quizzed over fund `misuse'

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) has been questioned over his suspected misuse of a special allowance fund during his tenure as Kaohsiung mayor, Hsieh's camp confirmed yesterday.

Chao Tien-lin (趙天麟), spokesman for Hsieh's campaign office, made the remarks after reports said that an investigation unit under the Supreme Prosecutors Office had summoned Hsieh as well as DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun for questioning over the fund use.

Chao confirmed that Hsieh spoke to the Special Investigation Task Force the previous week to explain his fund use.

According to Chao, Hsieh will respect the judicial authorities and explain himself to the prosecutors when summoned, whether in relation to alleged irregularities in the construction of Kaohsiung's mass rapid transit system or the special allowance fund. Hsieh was Kaohsiung mayor from 1998 to 2005.

The construction of the MRT system began in 2001 during Hsieh's tenure as mayor.

Meanwhile, Yu was non-committal when asked about reports that prosecutors asked him to explain his use of the fund during his service in government posts, saying only that the probe "should best be left to the prosecutors."

Around 6,500 public officials are given a special allowance fund every month for their discretionary use, half of which can be spent without any proof of spending, while use of the other half must be substantiated with receipts.

The fund for officials other than President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has attracted attention since Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) was indicted in February for embezzling NT$11.17 million (US$337,650) from his special allowance fund during his term as Taipei mayor.

The Taipei District Court found Ma not guilty on Aug. 14, but prosecutors have appealed the case to the Taiwan High Court.
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