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Post-Election 2008: Probes against Ma, Hsieh continue
CORRUPTION:
As was the case with President Chen Shui-bian, any investigation or court proceeding against Ma Ying-jeou would cease after he becomes president
By Rich Chang
STAFF REPORTER
Tuesday, Mar 25, 2008, Page 2
A prosecutor confirmed yesterday that probes into allegations of corruption against president-elect Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rival Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) were ongoing.
Chen Yun-nan (陳雲南), spokesman for the Supreme Prosecutors Office's Special Investigation Panel, told reporters yesterday that investigations were ongoing and that prosecutors could summon Ma and Hsieh for questioning if necessary.
Chen also addressed the possibility that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) could be indicted after he leaves the Presidential Office in May, but denied that the panel had decided to bring Chen into court soon after he steps down.
The Taipei District Prosecutors Office in November 2006 indicted first lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) on corruption and forgery charges in connection with the handling of the "state affairs fund," in which the president is also suspected of graft and forgery. But presidential immunity prevented President Chen from facing charges.
The spokesman said that as Wu was indicted by the Taipei District Prosecutors Office before the panel was formed, the latter was not involved in President Chen's case.
The allegations against Hsieh were related to the Kaohsiung mass rapid transit system, the election of Kaohsiung Bank board members, the Dream Mall project, the Kaohsiung Stadium project and a case involving political contributions.
For his part, Ma faced allegations over the three-in-one sale of the Broadcasting Corp of China, China Television Co and Central Motion Picture Corp to China Times Group subsidiary Jungli Investment Co in 2005 for NT$9.3 billion (US$286.7 million), as well as the KMT's sale of the Institute of Policy Research and Development building to Yuan Lih Construction Corp for NT$4.3 billion last year.
Both deals took place when Ma was KMT chairman.
A prosecutor told the Taipei Times on Sunday that Ma could face additional corruption charges, but that any investigation, indictment or trial would be suspended when he takes office on May 20 because of presidential immunity.
State Prosecutor-General Chen Tsung-ming (陳聰明) came in for criticism in January for allegedly ordering prosecutors not to summon the two presidential candidates for questioning before the presidential election.
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