Taiwan prosecutors probe VP, presidential hopeful

TAIPEI, June 4 (Reuters) Taiwan prosecutors gave details today of a massive graft investigation into five top ruling-party politicians that could lead to criminal charges and throw next year's presidential race into uncertainty.

The Supreme Court prosecutor's office said it had interviewed 52 witnesses and checked 6,000 documents as part of a probe of special funds of Vice President Annette Lu, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh, the party chief, an ex-premier and a former presidential aide.

''If there's something that's not clear, we will ask them to explain,'' prosecutor Hou Kuan-jen told a news conference. ''It all looks fuzzy to us.'' Taiwan prosecutors, under pressure to root out corruption, have taken on a series of public figures over the last two years.

A media officer for Hsieh's campaign team said last week that the presidential candidate -- a former premier and one-time mayor of the southern port city Kaohsiung -- had done nothing wrong.

Hsieh is in a tight race for the March 2008 presidency with former opposition Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman and presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou.

Ma himself was charged with corruption in February after Hsieh's party recommended a probe. The KMT is looking to Ma as its best shot at the presidency, which the party lost for the first time in 2000 after ruling Taiwan since 1949.

The KMT is more pro-China than the DPP, which tilts towards independence. China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has threatened war if it embraces formal independence.

The prosecutors are also probing DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun, former Premier Su Tseng-chang and former presidential office Secretary-General Mark Chen. Investigators are checking into how all five used money when in public office.

Last year prosecutors charged first lady Wu Shu-chen and several presidential aides for corruption linked to their use of the presidential office's state affairs fund.

Chen Shui-bian of the DPP, who was elected in 2000 and 2004, is also expected to be charged when he steps down in May 2008.

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