Top court clears Ma of corruption

Taiwan's Supreme Court yesterday cleared president-elect Ma Ying-jeou of corruption charges, delivering a final ruling in the high-profile case less than a month before he takes office.

Ma had been accused of misusing more than NT$11 million (HK$2.8 million) in expense accounts while he was Taipei mayor, charges he strenuously denied.

He was cleared by a District Court last year, and subsequently by the High Court when prosecutors appealed.

In its verdict, the Supreme Court cited the lower court ruling that "the defendant had no intention to swindle money using his position nor engage in fraudulent acts."

Court spokesman Chang Tsun- tsung said: "The Supreme Court, after deliberation, rejected the appeal by prosecutors and upheld the verdict of the High Court, which found Ma Ying- jeou not guilty of graft and breach of trust charges."

Ma, of the Kuomintang party, won a landslide victory in the March 22 presidential vote over Frank Hsieh Chang-ting of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party.

He is due to be inaugurated on May 20, succeeding the DPP's Chen Shui- bian who is stepping down after the maximum two four-year terms.

Ma has always insisted he acted just like 6,500 other government officials entitled to special expenses, describing the case as an "ugly tactic" by the DPP to crush his presidential bid.

"We welcome and respect the Supreme Court ruling," his lawyer Song Yao-ming said.

The DPP, in contrast, expressed regret. "We regret the verdict but we are not surprised as Ma is now elected," said DPP parliamentary whip Lai Ching-te.

"Although Ma escaped prosecution, it does not mean he is innocent."

The corruption allegations stemmed from a decades-old system of allotting special funds to higher-ranking government officials. Analysts say the rules governing the funds are vague and full of loopholes.

2008-04-26

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