Taiwan is investigating suspected bribes related to Foxconn Expertise Group founder Terry Gou’s presidential marketing campaign, because the billionaire submits signatures to run in subsequent yr’s election.
13 folks had been questioned over suspected money funds provided in alternate for signatures in assist of Gou’s presidential bid, the Taipei District Prosecutors Workplace mentioned Wednesday.
Gou’s marketing campaign has distanced itself from the suspects, repeating its earlier condemnation of unlawful conduct.
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“Signature drives mustn’t contain exchanges of cash,” Huang Shih-hsiu, a spokesperson for Gou’s marketing campaign, mentioned in a textual content message. “Any unlawful act shouldn’t be accepted.”
Gou submitted signatures to the Taipei Metropolis Election Fee on Wednesday afternoon, a day forward of the deadline, in a bid to get on the poll within the January election, the Central Information Company reported. Huang mentioned Gou had supplied greater than the 290,000 signatures from eligible voters required to safe his candidacy as an unbiased, based on the report.
The Central Election Fee will announce by Nov. 14 whether or not Gou has sufficient signatures.
Taiwan’s election will form U.S.-China relations for years to return, as candidates maintain differing views on the self-ruled democracy’s overseas coverage. Beijing claims the island as its territory and hasn’t dominated out utilizing pressure to take it. Policymakers in Washington are united of their want to assist Taipei thwart any potential assault.
Learn Extra: Each Cautious of Warfare, Taiwan’s Voters Eye China and China Eyes Taiwan’s Voters
The bribery investigation is the most recent blow to Gou’s marketing campaign. Chinese language authorities has introduced a probe of the tech big he based, which has since shed billions of {dollars} in market worth. Rival candidates are additionally in talks to type an alliance that might additional diminish Gou’s election prospects.
Prosecutors are investigating 12 instances of suspected bribes linked to Gou’s marketing campaign, and have detained 15 folks throughout Taiwan, based on United Day by day Information report. The bribes concerned supporters of political events additionally within the election race, based on the report.