TAIPEI, Taiwan, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- The mayor of the capital of Taiwan, Ma Ying-jeou, has admitted he misused money from an expenditure fund attached to his office.
The Taipei Times reported Ma responded to allegations made against him Friday by Democratic Progressive Party legislators by admitting he used more than $2,400 from mayor's office funds to adopt and treat his dog.
"I adopted the dog during an event held by the city government," Ma said. "I didn't know the adoption and examination fee was paid for by the fund."
The Times said critics have already begun to compare the Taipei mayor's action to the scandal that has surrounded President Chen Shui-bian and his family over allegations of pocketing public funds, an association that Ma said is wholly inaccurate.
"I adopted the dog at a public welfare event, and so paying the fee with money from the fund is legal. Besides, I didn't take false receipts to seek reimbursement. My situation is not the same as President Chen," he told the Times.
