Taiwan Respects Result
of Costa Rican Probe on
Taiwan Aid
Taiwan's Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
said it will respect the
results of an
investigation by the
Costa Rican judiciary
into the alleged misuse
of Taiwan-donated funds
for a housing
construction project in
the Central American
country
MOFA spokesman Henry
Chen said Sunday
responding to a report
in the Taipei-based
Chinese- language
newspaper China Times
that Costa Rican
judicial officials
raided the offices of
the Housing Ministry
July 25 seizing
documents related to
Taiwan's donations that
had been allegedly
diverted to other
projects.
Costa Rica's ministro de
Vivienda (Housing
minister),
Fernando Zumbado is
accused of diverting
funds from the Taiwanese
donation to build houses
for the poor.
The documents were
seized in Zumbado's
office one day after he
testified to a
legislative commission
dealing with the
allegations.
Chen said that during
Taiwan's period of
diplomatic relations
with Costa Rica, all
bilateral cooperation
projects were negotiated
by both governments,
with the required funds
being allocated legally.
He added that the funds
mentioned in the report
were donated by Taiwan
to improve housing for
Costa Rica's poor.
Costa Rica switched
diplomatic recognition
from Taipei to Beijing
June 6, 2007, ending a
63-year diplomatic
relationship with
Taiwan. |
