The China Post
Date: November 14, 2017
By: Yeh Su-ping and Evelyn Kao
TAIPEI (CNA) – The Presidential Office on Tuesday dismissed a report by the China
Opposition Kuomintang Legislator Ma Wen-chun speaks to reporters at the Legislative Yuan on Nov. 14, 2017. The legislator said the Presidential Office allegedly pressed the Navy to pay NT$2.4 billion to Ching Fu Shipbuilding Co. (CFS), Taiwan’s largest private shipbuilder, late last year. (CNA)
Times that it used its influence to have funds transferred to a financially-troubled naval contractor, and demanded that the Taipei-based daily apologize and issue a correction.
According to the report, which was based on an audio tape obtained by opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Ma Wen-chun (馬文君), the Presidential Office allegedly pressed the Navy to pay NT$2.4 billion (US$81.12 million) to Ching Fu Shipbuilding Co. (CFS), Taiwan’s largest private shipbuilder, late last year.
The payment was for work done on a NT$34.9 billion (US$1.18 billion) contract Ching Fu won in October 2014 to build six minesweepers for Taiwan’s military. The company is under investigation after defaulting on a NT$20.5 billion syndicated loan.
In a statement issued Tuesday after the report appeared, the Presidential Office denied ever intervening in the case and said allegations of its involvement in the case and putting pressure on the military were clearly fabricated. [FULL STORY]
