TAIPEI – Taiwan is investigating suspected bribes connected to Foxconn founder Terry Gou’s presidential campaign after the billionaire submitted signatures to run in next year’s election.

Thirteen people were questioned over suspected cash payments offered in exchange for signatures in support of Gou’s presidential bid, Bloomberg reported Wednesday.

Gou’s campaign has distanced itself from the suspects, repeating its earlier condemnation of illegal behavior.

"Signature drives should not involve exchanges of money," Huang Shih-hsiu, a spokesperson for Gou’s campaign, said in a text message to Bloomberg. "Any illegal act is not accepted."

Gou submitted signatures to the Taipei City Election Commission on Wednesday afternoon, a day ahead of the deadline, in a bid to get on the ballot in the January election, the Central News Agency reported. Huang said Gou had provided more than the 290,000 signatures from eligible voters required to secure his candidacy as an independent, according to the report.

The Central Election Commission will announce by Nov. 14 whether Gou has enough signatures.

The bribery investigation is the latest blow to Gou’s campaign after Chinese authorities announced a probe into Foxconn's finances in late October.

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