The Ma Ying-jeou Foundation yesterday filed criminal complaints against two former employees, accusing them of breaches of trust and embezzlement.
The foundation in a statement said it filed complaints with the Shilin District Prosecutors’ Office against former chief executive Hsiao Hsu-tsen (蕭旭岑) and staff member Wang Kuang-tzu (王光慈) to protect its interests, public assets and public trust.
As judicial proceedings for the case have begun, the foundation said it could not disclose more details, but it would fully cooperate with the investigation.
Photo: Taipei Times
The prosecutors’ office confirmed that it received the complaint and related evidence yesterday morning.
A meeting would be held to decide whether to assign a dedicated prosecutor to the case, the office said, adding that it would begin collecting evidence.
Hsiao and Wang left their positions in late February amid allegations of a power struggle at the foundation, which was established in 2018 by former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).
The departure of the two involved alleged breaches of financial discipline, Ma said during an interview with Chinese-language newspaper United Daily News in March, citing their frequent trips to China and interactions with Taiwanese businesspeople there.
Hsiao had denied wrongdoing and said the controversy was a misunderstanding.
He said he had always reported matters to Ma during his tenure, but that the former president had “forgotten many things” — a remark seen as implying that Ma had dementia.
On March 27, the foundation said it set up a three-member board committee to investigate the allegations against Hsiao and Wang.
The committee on Sunday said it found no evidence of financial wrongdoing, adding that Wang had kept comprehensive accounting records and documentation in her role handling the organization’s finances.
Multiple meetings were conducted, and foundation records and other internal documents were reviewed during the investigation, the results of which were submitted to the organization’s board of directors on April 20, the committee said.
The investigation results were rejected by Ma the next day.
Hsiao yesterday told reporters he was unsure whether the complaints filed represented the board’s position or the decision of a “certain” individual.
He said he would review the procedures involved, adding that he was confident the justice system would clear his name.
“This incident has hurt former president Ma Ying-jeou the most,” Hsiao said, accusing certain people of deliberately creating the situation at Ma’s expense, despite being fully aware of Ma’s “condition.”
They continued to push Ma to take the lead, he said, describing it as “highly unethical.”
Hsiao said he had conducted himself with integrity throughout his life and had never taken any money he was not entitled to, adding that he would resign as Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) vice chairman if any illegal activity were found.
Meanwhile, Wang’s mother in an open letter to Ma said she was “heartbroken and angry.”
She said she would file a complaint with the Taipei City Department of Labor over alleged workplace bullying and pursue legal action.
The mother said Wang had been suffering from depression since returning from the hospital in April 2024, and was subjected to what she described as abusive treatment, including being forced to kneel in apology and being grabbed by the neck.
The incidents caused Wang’s condition to deteriorate rapidly into severe depression, and she attempted suicide twice, “nearly causing me to lose her,” she added.
Additional reporting by Liu Wan-lin
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