Ma Ying-jeou indicted, resigns, announces presidential bid

So it’s official. Ma Ying-jeou was indicted for corruption this afternoon at 4. From what I can gather, as mayor he had access to NT$16,320,000 in special allowance funds, NT$11,000,000 of which he remitted to private bank accounts and declared as income.

I was going to put this in the “KMT Chairman Ma put on trial” thread, but it looks like he’s not going to be chairman much longer. He has a press conference coming up in about an hour, most likely to announce his resignation.

So, what was it he said he would do if indicted? Will he?

Political witch-hunting.

Do you really think so, Chris? I mean aren’t the judiciary still the same bunch of rusty old blues?

Ma fucked up.

HG

It can’t be true. He’s sooooo handsome.

Excellent.

Just to make sure that there are no double standards, the prosecutors should proceed further and air out all of the special allowance funds for every official.

I don’t think there will be any officials left. This kind of thing is SOP island-wide.

A bit more detail.

After first saying he had receipts, it turns out Ma has no receipts – but he doesn’t technically need any since the allowance is earmarked for public works. He said as much in a CNN interview: that he didn’t do anything wrong, and didn’t embezzle because the special allowance is for public relations. The indictment says that of the NT$16 million, he donated 5 million, but pocketed the other 11 million, declaring it in tax statements as his income. Whoops. In fact, that’s been his latest position – that the special allowance is his salary. Whoops again.

And that secretary of his is charged with embezzling NT$760,000 – he used other people’s receipts.

Seems Ma is going to resign in a few minutes - reporters have already been tipped off, much like they were about his indictment earlier this afternoon.

If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison.

True, it’s a culture of dishonesty. Bank presidents, judges, politicians, manufacturers, professors, students, parents, etc. It will take generations to bring about change so that some day honesty and integrity will be values that people actually respect and strive for.

[quote=“slurpcheese”]Seems Ma is going to resign in a few minutes - reporters have already been tipped off, much like they were about his indictment earlier this afternoon.

If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison.[/quote]

Resign as grand poo-bah of the KMT only, right? He’s not quitting as mayor is he?

[quote=“Mother Theresa”][quote=“slurpcheese”]Seems Ma is going to resign in a few minutes - reporters have already been tipped off, much like they were about his indictment earlier this afternoon.

If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison.[/quote]

Resign as grand poo-bah of the KMT only, right? He’s not quitting as mayor is he?[/quote]

Um, he’s not mayor any more anyway.

There’s no doubt that Ma screwed up this time. He’s most likely going to resign as KMT chairman, but he’ll get re-elected. He’s no longer holding any office, so for the time being, he’s pretty much a private citizen.

I think it’s a given that the opposition will soon start retaliating by reporting en masse to the anti-corruption prosecutor’s office, in the same way Ma’s case was started by DPP legislators.

hes not the mayor anymore, hau lung-bing is the Taipei city mayor

[quote=“Taffy”][quote=“Mother Theresa”][quote=“slurpcheese”]Seems Ma is going to resign in a few minutes - reporters have already been tipped off, much like they were about his indictment earlier this afternoon.

If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison.[/quote]

Resign as grand poo-bah of the KMT only, right? He’s not quitting as mayor is he?[/quote]

Um, he’s not mayor any more anyway.[/quote]

Oh, yea. Details, details.

So then I guess the resignation is no big deal anyway. Chairman of the KMT – whoopdeedoo.

But seven years in prison, that’s something.

Yes, and resign as chairman he just did.

And he simultaneously made the offical announcement that he will run for president in 2008. He said his anger will become his power, and that he will not fall down. A few reporters clapped. It was kinda pathetic.

Yeah … seven years in prison … how many of the corrupt politicians and leading businessmen are still in jail … and when they probably are in a 5 star wing somewhere. Never seen any evidence that they are in fact in jail …

he just annouced that he is still running for president

As an independent? Because there is no place for indicted and corrupt members in the KMT …

Maybe he’ll share the same room as Madame Wu at the hospital when fainting spells occur every time he’s suppose to appear in court. :laughing:

Green prosecutors are usually overzealous. Like the Fung case, it’ll drag on for a while. But not long enough to count him out of the running in '08.

[quote=“slurpcheese”]
And he simultaneously made the offical announcement that he will run for president in 2008. He said his anger will become his power, and that he will not fall down. A few reporters clapped. It was kinda pathetic.[/quote]

Ballsy move! :bravo: It’ll rally the base and a fighting politician is what the Taiwanese electorate likes to see!