Ma Ying-jeou, leader of Taiwan's main opposition party, has
resigned from his post as chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT) after
being indicted on corruption charges.
At a press conference to announce his resignation he protested
his innocence and declared he'd?? run in the 2008 Taiwan
leadership election if selected as the KMT candidate.
A KMT regulation stipulates that the chairman of the party must
resign from the post if prosecuted regardless of whether or not
they're found guilty. Ma could to return to his post if
acquitted.
Prosecutors say Ma diverted 11 million New Taiwan dollars
(US$333,000) from Taipei's special allowance funds to his private
account when he was mayor. Prosecutors didn't say what jail term
they would seek but have indicated they'd suggest Ma be given a
light sentence if found guilty.
The Clean Government Committee, which operates under the KMT,
published an investigation report after Ma's indictment was
announced. They argued that the funds deposited in Ma's personal
account had all been used for public welfare services.
The report said Ma donated a total of 68.09 million New Taiwan
dollars (US$2.06 million) to public undertakings during his tenure
as Taipei mayor. This was far more than the special allowances
deposited in his private account.
It's in keeping with the policy of the Taiwan authorities to put
part of the special allowances into a private account, the report
said.
Taiwan prosecutors also indicted Yu Wen, former secretary of the
Taipei mayor's office, on charges of forgery. Indictments against
five others involved in the case have been temporarily postponed,
say prosecutors.
In August 2006 some Democratic Progressive Party members had
accused Ma of misusing special allowance funds while he was mayor
of Taipei. This led to the investigation.
The funds are allocated by the authorities to executive officers
at various levels. Official receipts are required for only half of
the funds while the remainder only needs the signature of the
official.
Ma said earlier he would resign his post as KMT chairman if he
was indicted. However, the Kuomintang has rejected his resignation
and asked him to reconsider.
In trying to persuade Ma to remain the KMT has contravened its
own regulations which stipulate that the party chairman is required
to resign if prosecuted regardless of whether they're found guilty
or not.
(Xinhua News Agency February 14, 2007)