Prosecutors yesterday searched offices of accounting firms and other companies linked to Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Ko Wen-je’s (柯文哲) presidential campaign amid allegations of fraud, while TPP Legislator Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) resigned from the party’s Central Standing Committee.
Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office and Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau personnel collected material at seven locations in and around Taipei, including at marketing firm Muko (木可行銷公關), accounting firm Jing Hua CPA (精華會計師事務所), OCT Entertainment Co (時樂) and Neo Creative Marketing Production Co (尼奧創意行銷).
They also searched the residences of Tai Li-ling (戴利玲), who is registered as the owner of OCT Entertainment and Neo Creative Marketing; Lee Wen-tsung (李文宗), chief financial officer for Ko’s presidential campaign; and Lee’s sister, Muko director Lee Wen-chuan (李文娟).
Photo: CNA
Tuanmu Cheng (端木正), an accountant at Jing Hua who was contracted by the TPP, Lee Wen-tsung, Lee Wen-chuan and staff at the companies were questioned.
A TPP spokesperson said that investigators did not search TPP headquarters or Ko’s office, adding that the party voluntarily handed over six boxes of material.
Earlier in the day, Huang resigned as a TPP Central Standing Committee member, although she would remain as one of the party’s eight legislators-at-large.
After the committee met yesterday afternoon, party officials told reporters that she had resigned.
Ko had approved her decision to step down from the party’s top decisionmaking body, the officials said.
Huang, Lee Wen-tsung and Tuanmu would have their cases scrutinized by the TPP Central Evaluation Committee, the officials said.
Later in the afternoon, Huang and a lawyer went to the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office to file a request to investigate alleged wrongdoing by Tuanmu.
Tuanmu and Jing Hua earlier said that they had conducted their “auditing services for the TPP in accordance with all legal requirements.”
The firm in a statement denied claims of misconduct, errors or falsification of records.
Tuanmu said in the statement that he welcomes an investigation by prosecutors and the Control Yuan, adding that it would find him innocent of the party’s accusations.
Ko, TPP Legislator Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) and TPP caucus director Vicky Chen (陳智菡) on Saturday held a news conference after allegations of fraud, false declarations and other issues were reported.
Political parties that contest presidential and legislative elections are required to submit their financial records to the Control Yuan.
Ko said mistakes were made over the reporting of political donations and campaign finances, while Lee Wen-tsung made a public apology, saying that he had failed to properly check accounts and reports.
Mistakes were made in 17 political donation declarations totaling about NT$18 million (US$557,207), the party said.
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS