President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday denied that the indictment of former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) was political manipulation by his administration, stressing his respect for the independence of judiciary.
Speaking for the first time since Lee’s indictment on Thursday, Ma said he has always respected the judiciary and that he would not allow any interference in ongoing legal cases.
“Judicial independence is a crucial line of defense in a democratic nation and it requires a joint effort by the government, the opposition parties and the public to protect it ... Time will prove that I have always respected the judicial process and that there is judicial independence,” Ma told a press conference at the Presidential Office.
Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei Times
Lee, 88, was indicted on Thursday on charges of embezzling state funds, becoming the second democratically elected Taiwanese president to be indicted on corruption charges.
Prosecutors accused the former president of embezzling US$7.8 million between 1994 and 1999 from a fund used to conduct secret diplomatic activities.
If convicted, Lee could face at least 10 years in prison, although prosecutors have indicated that they may ask for more lenient sentencing because of his age.
Lee recently voiced his support for Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), who will challenge Ma in January’s presidential election.
Many DPP lawmakers have questioned the timing of the indictment, saying that it was politically motivated or a form of revenge by the Ma administration.
Insisting that the accusations are groundless, Ma yesterday said he would never tolerate any form of political revenge or manipulation of the judiciary.
Ma declined to take questions from reporters and left the press conference after reading his statement.
At a separate setting yesterday, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers were divided over the impact of the indictment on the party in the January presidential and legislative elections.
“It’s hard to predict, as the indictment could have repercussions for the KMT,” KMT caucus whip Lin Yi-shih (林益世) said.
KMT Legislator Ho Tsai-feng (侯彩鳳) said that the indictment could be interpreted as a “political maneuver” by the Ma administration to tip the election in the KMT’s favor.
Lo Chih-ming (羅志明), a KMT legislative candidate in Greater Kaohsiung, said the indictment had led to intense discussion on political radio talk shows in the south.
He said the talk shows, which all favor the DPP over the KMT, broadcast the view that “only native Taiwanese presidents have been indicted, not mainlander presidents” and that “the KMT judicially suppressed Lee because he supports Tsai.”
KMT Legislator Chiu Yi (邱毅), on the other hand, said the indictment could boost the KMT’s election prospects as it “could rekindle the passions” of Ma’s supporters.
One of the reasons that supporters of Ma found their passion toward Ma fading was that Ma “had not eliminated all corruption” involved in former administrations, Chiu said.
KMT Legislator Justin Chou (周守訓) was of the opinion that “Taiwanese are mature enough not to attach a political tone to judicial cases.”
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