Taiwan's ex-president Lee cleared of graft charges

Former Taiwan president Lee Teng-hui attending a hearing at Taipei district court on September 16, 2013. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP
Former Taiwan president Lee Teng-hui attending a hearing at Taipei district court on September 16, 2013. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP

TAIPEI (AFP) - Taiwan's ex-leader Lee Teng-hui was cleared on Friday on charges of embezzling state funds during his presidency between 1988 and 2000 due to insufficient evidence, a court said.

Mr Lee was indicted in 2011 for allegedly embezzling US$7.79 million (S$9.7 million) from the government's diplomatic slush funds while in office to help set up a private think-tank.

Mr Lee was found not guilty due to lack of evidence since he did not sign several related official documents implicating the misuse of funds, the Taipei district court said in a statement.

"I was confident about the case, there was nothing. I believed in my innocence and I have committed no crimes," he told reporters.

Mr Lee became the second former Taiwanese president to face graft charges, and his successor Chen Shui-bian is currently serving a 20-year jail term on multiple graft convictions.

Ninety-year-old Lee still enjoys support from the island's pro-independence camp and has been a vocal critic of the government's China-friendly policies.

He has flatly rejected the graft accusations, claiming they were "invented" by the government to persecute a high-profile critic, prompting President Ma Ying-jeou to deny meddling in his graft case.

Mr Lee irked Beijing during his presidency by promoting a separate identity for Taiwan. Beijing fired missiles near the island in 1995 and 1996, triggering a US decision to send two carrier groups to the area.

Taiwan and China split in 1949 after a civil war but Beijing still sees the self-ruled island as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.

However, tensions have eased markedly in recent years since Mr Ma came to power in 2008.

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