Wu defends links with alleged gang boss

Wu did not deny that he had been on a trip with Chiang Chin-liang, who has a long criminal history that includes murders, extortion and gun-running.

But the premier said society should not look down upon ex-convicts, in reference to the fact that Chiang is currently on parole for a prison term that lasts until 2017.

Wu was at the time secretary general of the ruling Kuomintang.

The Next magazine, in its latest issue, disclosed that Wu and Chiang were in a group from Nantou that claimed to be visiting the island of Bali last December on a fact-finding mission to help advance the central county's tourism.

But the magazine said the real purpose of the trip was to settle KMT's nomination for Nantou in the upcoming magistrate election.

The county's incumbent magistrate, Lee Chao-ching, who was a member of the group, claimed he was not aware of Chiang's criminal records at the time.

But Chiang is now heading a major supporters group for Lee's reelection campaign.

Lee said former inmates who have reformed should be given encouragement and that the Bali trip was purely for his county's tourism development.

Government spokesman Su Chun-pin stressed that Wu paid for his own expenses for the Bali trip.

But the opposition demanded President Ma Ying-jeou, who doubles as the KMT chief, investigate alleged ties between the ruling party's members and gangsters.

Tsai Ing-wen, who heads the Democratic Progressive Party, said the KMT must sack Lee if the candidate is involved in corrupt dealings with gangsters.

She said Ma must act to prevent the year-end elections from becoming an opportunity for gangsters to expand their influences.

DPP's candidate for the Nantou magistrate race, Lee Wen-chung, alleged that the trip was meant to settle Nantou government contracts for gravel supply.

DPP Legislator Lee Chun-yi demanded Wu resign over his ties with Chiang.

The magazine report comes in the wake of the government's vow to crack down on criminal elements threatening the most popular sport, baseball, in Taiwan.

Prosecutors are investigating allegations that gangsters fixed games by bribing professional baseball players.

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