Lee professes innocence in state fund embezzlement indictment
ROC Central News Agency
2011/07/01 21:51:39
Taipei, July 1 (CNA) Former President Lee Teng-hui professed innocence Friday after being indicted a day earlier for allegedly embezzling state funds while in office from 1988-2000.
"The accusation made by the Special Investigation Division in its indictment against me is totally groundless and every one of you should look at it," Lee said at a fund-raising event sponsored by the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) for opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen, who will challenge President Ma Ying-jeou in the presidential race slated for Jan. 14, 2012.
"Even if there is no justice in this world, God will let justice take its course," he said. "Should I die, there will be millions of people like me who will continue striving for Taiwan's sovereignty and democracy."
Lee is the spiritual leader of the tiny TSU, which is an ally of the pro-independence DPP.
Both the TSU and DPP have labelled Lee's indictment a "politically charged move," with only seven months left before the presidential election.
The former president was indicted by prosecutors Thursday on charges of embezzling US$7.79 million in national security funds to establish a private think tank -- which is now the Taiwan Research Institute (TRI).
Given Lee's advancing years, however -- he is 88 -- the prosecutors are not seeking a jail term.
Liu Tai-ying, Lee's then-right-hand man who set up the TRI, was also indicted. (By S.H. Lin and Flor Wang) ENDITEM/J
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