Taiwan Vice-President Lien Chan yesterday admitted he lent NT$36.24 million (HK$8.33 million) to a former protege later convicted on corruption charges.
The admission came as National Assembly deputy Li Wen-chung filed a formal complaint over the loan with the Control Yuan, Taiwan's highest government watchdog body.
Mr Lien confirmed he made the loan to Wu Tze-yuan in 1993 to help persuade him to run for commissioner in the southern Pingtung County.
Mr Lien said the money was only a loan and urged the public not to read too much into it.
'I haven't even thought' of trying to get the money back, he said, laughing.
Wu also joined the fray yesterday, claiming Mr Li held a grudge against him and had blackmailed him over the loan issue. Mr Lien and his family did not report the loan on his 1993 annual asset report, as required by law, making him susceptible to a fine of between NT$60,000 and NT$300,000.