Taiwan's KMT accused of bribing presidential candidate to abandon run

Taiwan prosecutors said yesterday they were investigating claims the embattled ruling Kuomintang (KMT) tried to bribe unpopular presidential candidate Hung Hsiu-chu to step down.

It is the latest setback for the KMT which is widely tipped to lose the presidential elections in January.

The party is in disarray after endorsing pro-Beijing Hung in July to run for the leadership despite her conservative views that fly in the face of public sentiment as fears grow over Beijing’s influence on the island.  

Hung is trailing behind the candidate of the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party, Dr Tsai Ing-wen, in the polls, but has refused to heed calls to stand aside.

A DPP legislator filed a complaint to prosecutors last week, alleging KMT chairman Eric Chu Li-luan had offered Hung benefits to persuade her to quit the presidential race, violating election laws.

The complaint by Chen Ting-fei says Chu asked Hung to step down on three separate occasions, citing media reports.

Chu violated the presidential election act by “offering bribes or other undue benefits” to persuade Hung to abandon her campaign, according to a copy of the complaint.