A coalition of Taiwanese independence groups yesterday urged the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office to investigate President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) for corruption, alleging that he received NT$1 billion (US$32.7 million at current exchange rates) in illegal campaign donations from Ting Hsin International Group (頂新國際集團) in 2012.
Wu Tsu-chia (吳子嘉), vice chairman of the my-formosa.com news Web site, on Oct. 15 published an article saying that Ma accepted NT$1 billion in political contributions from the conglomerate at the center of a cooking oil scandal during the 2012 presidential campaign.
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) on Friday last week filed a libel suit against Wu.
“As citizens, we ask the prosecutors to investigate whether the NT$1 billion was bribery or a political contribution,” said Chen Yong-chang (陳永昌), an associate professor at National Taiwan University’s College of Management, who is also the Taiwanese National Party’s candidate for Taipei mayor.
Ma and the KMT are known to have a cozy relationship with Ting Hsin, Chen said.
He accused the government of dragging its feet in investigating the group and Ma of interfering in the judicial process to shield the conglomerate from potential prosecution.
Joining Chen at the prosecutors’ office were Taiwanese National Party Chairman Tsai Chin-lung (蔡金龍) and representatives from the 908 Taiwan Republic Campaign, Taiwan National Congress Movement, Taiwan Nation-Building Forum and other organizations.
“Ma has always portrayed himself as a ‘clean’ politician who disdains corruption,” Chen said.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
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