In 2022, the public was stirred by New York’s new Republican representative George Santos, whose entire past, including his background, his education and his work experience, all turned out to be false. Santos, who is of Brazilian descent, claimed to have Jewish ancestry; he had also never been a varsity athlete of a prestigious school, nor worked in a renowned investment firm.
Moreover, it was revealed that Santos had spent political donations on personal luxury items, and the US Congress in December last year voted to expel him. Facing several federal fraud charges, Santos last week pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
Similarly, suspended Hsinchu mayor Ann Kao (高虹安), sworn into office in 2022 with much fanfare, was last month sentenced to seven years and four months in prison for corruption in a case involving the embezzlement of legislative assistants’ fees. Last week, she was further sentenced to 10 months in prison for defamation related to thesis plagiarism. The law has brought justice, and Kao is not far from serving time in prison.
Everyone has the right to participate in politics in a democratic society, but being given the opportunity to do so does not grant one the right to act without restraint. The rule of law is the cornerstone of democracy, and fraud and corruption violate this law, after which imprisonment awaits. In prison, the glory of the past becomes a thing of the past. Public officials must strictly distinguish between public and private finances, and adhering to basic legal and moral standards is the bare minimum.
The financial accounts of Ko Wen-je’s (柯文哲) Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) have lately come under investigation. Bookkeeping is quite simple, using accounting software to record all income and expenses, and keeping tabs on all receipts and invoices. Auditors verify the accounts by cross-checking receipts and confirming the figures. There is no such thing as accounts that are not clear unless the person in charge does not want others to know the truth.
TPP leaders can continue their attempts to deceive the public, just as Kao had tried to fool the judge about her thesis, with lawyers and doctors of law by her side joining her charade of lies. However, all these would be meaningless once the judicial authorities get hold of the financial accounts and the truth comes out.
Politics is a public matter and should be pursued with the public’s best interests in mind. If all Ko can think about is purchasing a NT$120 million (US$3.8 million) luxury house, which he said doctors can easily afford, would it not be better for him to go back to being a doctor? Seeing how Kao now faces years in prison, Ko might find out too late that there is no going back for him.
Mike Chang is an accountant based in California.
Translated by Wang Yun-fei
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