(China Daily)
Updated: 2007-12-29 11:01

TAIPEI: Taiwan's "high court" cleared opposition "presidential" candidate Ma Ying-jeou of graft charges on Friday, securing a place for the former Taipei mayor in the March "presidential" race.

Taiwan's opposition presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou smiles during a press conference, Friday, Dec. 28, 2007, in Taipei. Taiwan. [Agencies]

The 57-year-old Ma faces Frank Hsieh of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party.

A lower court originally exonerated Ma in August on charges of diverting NT$11 million ($333,000) of public money into his private account while serving as mayor of Taipei between 1998 and 2006.

But prosecutors appealed that decision and added a new charge - breach of trust.

Addressing reporters after the "high court" ruling, Ma attacked prosecutors for bringing the case against him.

"I feel I have been slighted," he said. "I cannot accept that prosecutors twisted witnesses' statements and falsified the record."

Ma always maintained that one of the main charges against him - using the fund without providing detailed accounting - had long been common practice among Taiwan municipal leaders and other government officials.

Rather than pocketing the fund, he said, he used it to make donations to charity.