TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Former President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) on Monday urged a three-member investigative panel at the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation to expedite its probe into alleged financial misconduct by former officials Hsiao Hsu-tsen (蕭旭岑) and Wang Kuang-tzu (王光慈).
Commenting on the ongoing investigation, Ma said the foundation presented evidence supporting its accusations against Hsiao and Wang to the board on March 27, per CNA. He added that additional materials were forwarded to the three-member panel, composed of board members, on April 8 and again Tuesday via text messages and the messaging app Line.
Ma also called on Hsiao and Wang to refrain from making public statements that could harm his or the foundation’s reputation, per SETN. He urged them to respond directly to the allegations and submit supporting evidence to the investigative panel.
KMT Central Committee member and panelist Lee Te-wei (李德維) said he had just returned to Taiwan on Saturday and was unaware of any registered mail containing evidence sent by the foundation, per ETtoday. He urged “the person who drafted the statement” to remain patient and allow the investigation to proceed.
Hsiao said he would cooperate fully with the inquiry and take all necessary steps to establish his innocence, per Liberty Times.
In related developments, foundation adviser Liao Chi-pin (廖繼斌) said Saturday that Ma’s faction has become a minority within the foundation, which could hinder efforts to appoint new board members, per Liberty Times. He added that while foundations are typically governed collectively by their boards, the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation has been centered on Ma as chair.
Liao also addressed Ma’s dissatisfaction with Hsiao and Wang, suggesting it stems from suspicions that they solicited donations or other financial benefits during cross-strait exchanges, per Liberty Times. He said some individuals travel to China in the name of promoting peace while raising funds on the side, practices he said Ma opposes.
Liao said the foundation’s cross-strait activities are intended to be free of financial interests and alleged that Hsiao violated that principle. Hsiao responded that individuals with grievances against him are emerging amid the controversy, per Tai Sounds.
