Former Taiwanese Pres. Ma was unwitting recipient of donations from HK businessman during 2008, 2012 presidential campaigns

Taiwan News
Date: .2019/12/06
By: Sophia Yang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer\

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A court verdict in a case involving illegal political donations revealed that

former Taiwanese P6resident Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) was unwittingly aided by money from an adviser to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) during his presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012.

Retired Taiwanese Army Lieutenant General Luo Wen-shan (羅文山) was recently sentenced to two and a half years in prison by Taipei District Court. Luo had been accused of illegally receiving political donations from CPPCC member and Hong Kong businessman Hui Chi-ming (許智明) while serving as chairman of a pro-Kuomintang (KMT) non-profit organization for retired military officers.

The court verdict found that Hui had paid Luo over NT$8 million between 2007 and 2014, most of s spent on newspaper advertisements in favor of KMT candidates as well as on networking banquets, gifts, and accommodations for Hui when he visited Taiwan.

The verdict also clearly pointed out the dates of ads supporting Ma that Luo placed in newspapers, including the Apple Daily in March 2008, the China Times in December 2011, and United Daily News in January 2012. In addition, former KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) was named as one of Hui's guests during his trips to Taiwan.    [FULL  STORY]