TPP expels independent legislative candidate over alleged China funding

Taipei, Jan. 6 (CNA) The Taiwan People's Party (TPP) on Saturday expelled independent legislative candidate Ma Chih-wei (馬治薇) after she was detained on suspicion of having received campaign funding from China.

In a statement Saturday, the TPP said it had expelled Ma - whose candidacy it had declined to back amid concerns over her links to China - because of her "violation of relevant integrity regulations."

In response to the controversy, Ma's campaign office issued a statement on Saturday denying the claims that she is involved in any illegal activities that would harm Taiwan.

"Ma Chih-wei loves Taiwan and is an innocent young person," the statement said.

The 40-year-old, who previously served as the TPP's Taoyuan chapter spokesperson, was detained without charge on Friday in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged violations of the Anti-Infiltration Act.

Prosecutors said that Ma would be held incommunicado for two months due to concerns she would collude with others to destroy evidence.

Prosecutors added they launched the probe after receiving a tipoff that the independent candidate had met with "people involved in Taiwan affairs" during visits to China in April and May last year.

According to prosecutors, there is evidence that Ma received anonymous funding from China in the form of U.S. dollars and Tether, a cryptocurrency, to cover election expenses.

The amount of Tether she received was equivalent to roughly NT$1 million (US$32,300), prosecutors said.