Taiwan's ex-leader Lee rejects corruption charges

TAIPEI (AFP) - Taiwan's ex-leader Lee Teng Hui on Friday defended himself in court against corruption charges stemming from his presidency between 1988 and 2000.

"I told the judge the indictment is baseless... I didn't do anything," the 89-year-old Lee told reporters after attending a hearing in the Taipei district court.

Lee was indicted last year on charges of 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.

He is the second former Taiwanese president to face graft charges, and his successor Chen Shui Bian is currently serving a jail term of 17 years and six months on two bribery convictions.