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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Taiwan opposition leader on trial | Taiwan opposition leader on trial |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| Taiwan opposition leader and presidential hopeful Ma Ying-jeou has gone on trial in a corruption case which could hit his 2008 hopes. | Taiwan opposition leader and presidential hopeful Ma Ying-jeou has gone on trial in a corruption case which could hit his 2008 hopes. |
| He is accused of misappropriating T$11.2 million ($339,000) of funds while mayor of the capital, Taipei. | He is accused of misappropriating T$11.2 million ($339,000) of funds while mayor of the capital, Taipei. |
| Mr Ma resigned from his position as head of the Kuomintang party shortly after the charges were announced, but said he would clear his name. | Mr Ma resigned from his position as head of the Kuomintang party shortly after the charges were announced, but said he would clear his name. |
| He has denied graft charges, and is a frontrunner in the presidential race. | He has denied graft charges, and is a frontrunner in the presidential race. |
| Presidential pledge | Presidential pledge |
| Mr Ma, who studied law in Taiwan and the US, is expected to defend himself. He was in confident mood as he arrived at court. | |
| "I am confident of my innocence and I trust in the justice of the court," he said, as a crowd of Kuomintang (KMT) supporters cheered. | "I am confident of my innocence and I trust in the justice of the court," he said, as a crowd of Kuomintang (KMT) supporters cheered. |
| Mr Ma was charged with improper use of government funds in February - and resigned as KMT chairman, protested his innocence and pledged to stand for president all at once. | Mr Ma was charged with improper use of government funds in February - and resigned as KMT chairman, protested his innocence and pledged to stand for president all at once. |
| He is facing four rivals from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) who are seeking nomination from their party. | He is facing four rivals from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) who are seeking nomination from their party. |
| The candidates are Vice President Annette Lu, Premier Su Tseng-chang, former premier Frank Hsieh, and former party chairman Yu Hsyi-kun. | The candidates are Vice President Annette Lu, Premier Su Tseng-chang, former premier Frank Hsieh, and former party chairman Yu Hsyi-kun. |
| The investigation into his finances began in mid-November after allegations that he had shifted money from a special fund into a personal account during his time as mayor, from 1998 to 2006. | The investigation into his finances began in mid-November after allegations that he had shifted money from a special fund into a personal account during his time as mayor, from 1998 to 2006. |
| If convicted, he would face at least seven years in prison. However, prosecutors have already asked for leniency because of his co-operation with the investigation. | If convicted, he would face at least seven years in prison. However, prosecutors have already asked for leniency because of his co-operation with the investigation. |