Prosecution probes sources of pro-China party's funds

ROC Central News Agency

2018/08/07 20:59:59

Taipei, Aug. 7 (CNA) Prosecutors searched the office of the Chinese Unity Promotion Party and the home of party head Chang An-le (張安樂) Tuesday on suspicion that the party has violated the law pertaining to organized crime.

During the raid, the investigators also took in four party workers for questioning, all of whom were later released without bail.

The Taipei District Prosecutors Office said prosecutors and investigators seized more than 10 cartons of documents and files that will be used to determine the sources of the party's funds.

Chang told the media that he has never taken any funds from the Chinese authorities or the Communist Party of China.

He said his cellphones, computers, notes and bank passbooks, as well as his son's travelers checks, were all seized by the investigators.

He said he will tell prosecutors everything they need to know from him when he meets them Aug. 9.

"If they want to indict me, they may well do so. Don't implicate innocents," he added.

Chang's son, Chang Wei (張瑋), said his father had been summoned July 20 and July 26, but he was in China for medical treatment at the time and had requested for a delay until Aug. 9.

Since his father's meeting with prosecutors had already been arranged, Chang Wei said he could not comprehend why they made the search today, but legal experts said the law-enforcement authorities were trying to keep all the evidence intact by raiding Chang's office and home, hoping to get a clear picture of where the party's funds have come from and how they have been used.

(By Wang Yang-yu and S.C. Chang)
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