Responding to Cash Photo Controversy, Businessman Han Ying-huan Says: 'Donation to Ma Ying-jeou Personally'

The controversy surrounding the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation continues to escalate. Han Ying-huan, chairman of the Xiamen Taiwan Business Association, stated today that the photo displayed by King Pu-tsung, showing him and Hsiao Hsu-tsung holding cash, was money he donated to Ma Ying-jeou personally in 2023, which was collected on his behalf by Hsiao Hsu-tsung and had nothing to do with the foundation.

Han Ying-huan is the chairman of the Xiamen Taiwan Business Association and a candidate for the next chairman of the Association of Taiwan Investment Enterprises on the Mainland (Taie-Lian). Following a vote at the general meeting, he is expected to become the next chairman.

Han told Central News Agency reporters today that the event in the photo took place in 2023, though he has forgotten the specific month, in Taipei. At the time, he personally contributed NT$1 million with the intention of donating it to former President Ma Ying-jeou. He did not inquire about how it would be used, nor did he know about the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation; he simply handed it to Hsiao Hsu-tsung to pass on to Ma.

Financial discipline issues at the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation have been ongoing. King Pu-tsung, former Secretary-General of the National Security Council, commissioned by Ma, held a press conference today to present evidence and photos, claiming that former staff members Hsiao Hsu-tsung and Wang Kuang-tzu violated financial discipline. One of the photos was of Hsiao and Han holding cash.

King said the foundation checked records from the past year or two and asked accounting firms to compare them, but found no record of such an amount being deposited, questioning how the photo could be explained.

Hsiao responded via a statement, saying that the unrecorded donations were because Ma's post-retirement privileges were ending, and some companies and Taiwanese businessmen wished to donate to Ma personally. After consulting Ma in March 2024 regarding relevant donations, Ma instructed that everything be used for public purposes, a point already explained to the investigation team. Regarding the photo, he recalled it was one of many. Taking a photo proved he was open and above board, with no issues.

Although former staff members Hsiao and Wang were suspected of violating financial discipline, the foundation's investigation team stated it could not prove they had done so. Ma Ying-jeou, chairman of the foundation, stated he did not agree with the investigation results.