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Associated Press

Prosecutors in El Salvador are investigating the alleged diversion of some US$10 million in funds donated by Taiwan and purportedly used to pay for political campaigning by the governing party.
Prosecutor Douglas Melendez said on Thursday in a television interview that the money came from US$38 million that Taipei gave to the Foreign Ministry for various projects.
Melendez alleged the funds were diverted to the presidency and “apparently used in a partisan campaign” under then President Mauricio Funes in elections won by current President Salvador Sanchez Ceren, an FMLN party ally of Funes.

Melendez said ex-Foreign Minister Hugo Martinez has been questioned because it was under his watch that the money was allegedly passed to the presidency.
El Salvador cuts Taiwan links as island loses yet another ally
Martinez is the party’s candidate for the presidential election next year.
The FMLN party political commission issued a statement calling the accusations “baseless” and accusing Melendez of “attacking our candidate and our party in a slanderous and irresponsible way”.
Martinez said in a statement that he wasn’t in the foreign ministry during the time mentioned.
“I am not prepared to allow my reputation to be sullied with irresponsible statements based on electoral politics,” he said.
Recently El Salvador switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to mainland China, though there was no suggestion of any link between that change and the investigation.
Earlier this week, former President Tony Saca of the Arena party was sentenced to 10 years in prison for embezzlement and money laundering along with several associates who also pleaded guilty.
Melendez said these investigations show that “nobody wears a crown in this country, nobody is above the law”.
Funes was president from 2009 to 2014. He and several former officials and family members are accused of corruption.
He is currently in Nicaragua, where he was granted asylum. He denies wrongdoing.


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Taiwan

El Salvador corruption probe investigates US$10 million in Taiwan donations, ‘diverted to ruling party’

In this file picture taken on January 13, 2017 Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen (L) is welcomed by Salvadoran President Salvador Sanchez Ceren with a ceremony at the presidential house in San Salvador. Photo: Agence France-Presse

On March 9, 2014, in San Salvador, El Salvador, Salvador Sanchez Ceren delivers a speech. The United States is decrying the Ceren government's August 20, 2018, announcement of a switch in diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China. (Luis Echeverria/Xinhua/Zuma Press/TNS)

China’s new alliance stirs US worries over possible ‘military base’ in El Salvador

US ambassador had warned about Beijing’s intentions at La Union port before the Central American nation made a diplomatic switch from Taipei

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu attends a news conference, in Taipei, Taiwan August 21, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer

The US ambassador to El Salvador last month warned of China’s intentions to turn the La Union port into a ‘military base’. Photo: Handout

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Prosecutors say the funds were donated by Taiwan to El Salvador’s foreign ministry, but were spent on the election campaign of President Salvador Sanchez Ceren


Prosecutors say the funds were donated by Taiwan to El Salvador’s foreign ministry, but were spent on the election campaign of President Salvador Sanchez Ceren.


Americas and the Caribbean

El Salvador corruption probe investigates US$10 million in Taiwan donations, ‘diverted to ruling party’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Prosecutors say the funds were donated by Taiwan to El Salvador’s foreign ministry, but were spent on the election campaign of President Salvador Sanchez Ceren

Prosecutors say the funds were donated by Taiwan to El Salvador’s foreign ministry, but were spent on the election campaign of President Salvador Sanchez Ceren