TAIPEI, Taiwan (Taiwan News) — KMT Central Committee member Lee Te-wei (李德維) on Tuesday rejected a demand from the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation to announce findings from a financial misconduct probe into former officials Hsiao Hsu-tsen (蕭旭岑) and Wang Kuang-tzu (王光慈) by May 27, stressing the timeline is his team’s prerogative.
Lee leads a three-member panel investigating the allegations against Hsiao and Wang. After the foundation released a statement suggesting the findings would be announced on Thursday, Lee swiftly rejected the claim.
In a follow-up statement on Tuesday, the foundation accused Lee of walking back a promise made on Friday to former President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), per UP Media. The foundation alleged that the team questioned only two of the three witnesses it had provided.
The foundation added that when the team requested acting CEO Tai Hsia-ling (戴遐齡) — who was not among the provided witnesses — for questioning, the inquiries revolved around Ma’s health rather than material evidence. Citing panel convener Hsueh Hsiang-chuan’s (薛香川) claim that the probe is near its end and Hsiao’s desire for a quick resolution, the foundation set the May 27 deadline.
The foundation warned that if the panel fails to report by then, Ma will empower Tai, the foundation's lawyer and accountant, and former National Security Council Secretary-General King Pu-tsung (金溥聰) to provide a detailed account.
The panel responded that the foundation has no right to set a deadline, per Tai Sounds. It also alleged the foundation failed to provide all requested information, adding that the team is still questioning the foundation's witnesses.
The team also warned that because the board authorized the panel to conduct the investigation, no one else in the foundation has the authority to disclose information. It stressed that any illegal disclosures would face legal recourse.
Lee reiterated his claim that the foundation misled him into promising a Thursday release, per Newtalk. He also singled out King, questioning his authority to make demands within the organization.
Hsiao urged the team to wrap up the investigation quickly, per UDN. He suggested the panel may be more cautious than usual because the case involves Ma, but questioned why the foundation allegedly failed to provide necessary documents.
