TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Prosecutors Wednesday (Aug. 14) searched the office of Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chair Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) amid a campaign finance investigation.
Ko and his staff are suspected of falsifying the declaration of political donations for his presidential campaign.
Celina Wu (吳怡萱), spokeswoman for the Taiwan People's Party, confirmed Wednesday morning that Taipei District Prosecutors Office investigators searched Ko's office in the Taiwan Glass Building, leading to the postponement of a planned lawsuit against Ko presidential campaign accountant Tuanmu Cheng (端木正), per CNA.
The Control Yuan on July 18 published the accounting reports of the 2024 presidential candidates. In Ko's political donation report, three expenses totaling NT$9.16 million (US$283,000) were pointed out by companies as not having been charged.
In addition, multiple political donations were authorized to be transferred to public relations firm Muko Public Relations Marketing Limited (木可公關公司), but four of these transactions, totaling as much as NT$13 million, have unclear financial flows, according to CNA.
On Monday, Ko held a press conference with his Campaign Director Huang Shan-shan (黃珊珊), Deputy Director Chen Zhi-han (陳智菡), and Chief Financial Officer Li Wen-zong (李文宗). Chen said Tuanmu arbitrarily claimed approximately NT$18.17 million in expenses from companies such as OCT Entertainment Co (時樂), Neo Creative Marketing Production Co (尼奧創意行銷), and Muko, resulting in 17 unreported or misreported transactions.
Huang added the TPP would cooperate with the Control Yuan's investigation and would pursue legal responsibility for the accountant.
Tuanmu added that all political donations were handled according to the law. He expressed confidence that the Control Yuan and prosecutors would investigate the evidence and find the truth.
Huang and Wu were originally scheduled to file a criminal complaint against Tuanmu at the Taipei District Prosecutor's Office at 11 a.m. Wednesday, but only Wu attended and spoke to the media.
Wu confirmed that investigators, directed by the Taipei District Prosecutor's Office, searched Ko's office. Office personnel cooperated with the search, and the filing of the complaint against Tuanmu has been postponed because the information is being compiled.
Wu said the case involves accountant Tuanmu independently adjusting discrepancies, with the backend clearly showing that the accountant "keyed in" the information into the Control Yuan system. Wu said the TPP does not deny issues with its internal control mechanisms and will make the necessary adjustments and conduct reviews.
