TAIPEI - FORMER Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian was questioned on Tuesday over his alleged role in a high-profile embezzlement case, a prosecutor said.

Chen came to the prosecutor's office accompanied by his lawyers amid tightened security, said Mr Chu Chao-liang, a spokesman for the special prosecutor's unit heading the probe.

Chen defended his actions after he was grilled for nearly four hours.

'I had no intention to embezzle the money,' he told reporters, insisting he had done nothing wrong.

Tuesday's questioning came after President Ma Ying Jeou last week declassified documents allegedly implicating Chen, mainly receipts and records relating to his use of special expenses from 2000-2006.

Prosecutors said the move would help a probe into whether the former leader was guilty of embezzling 14.8 million Taiwan dollars (S$677,429) from the government.

Chen's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), now in opposition, last week filed a lawsuit against Ma claiming that declassifying the dossiers regarding the case was politically motivated.

Chen was named a suspect in the case in 2006 but escaped immediate prosecution because of his presidential immunity.

His wife, Wu Shu Chen, is on trial for corruption and document forgery in the same case.

Chen has admitted using false receipts to claim money from the state, but insisted those funds were used for 'secret diplomatic missions', and not his personal benefit.

Nevertheless, prosecutors found that at least 1.5 million Taiwan dollars had been spent on diamond rings and other luxury items for his wife.

Chen had classified the documents before prosecutors launched a probe against him on May 20 - the day he left office after his second and final four-year term. -- AFP