Ma acquitted of information leakage charges (update)

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/10/11
By: Liu Shih-yi, Hsieh Chia-chen and Frances Huang

Taipei, Oct. 11 (CNA) The Taiwan High Court upheld a lower court decision Wednesday in favor of former President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) of the Kuomintang, acquitting him of abetting a leak of classified information relating to the investigation of an opposition lawmaker dating back to 2013.

According to the high court, the ruling is final and no appeal to the decision will be allowed.

Chou Cheng-ta (周政達), the presiding judge of Ma’s hearing, said that Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘), a senior lawmaker of the then-opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), who accused of Ma leaking state secrets in the case, failed to present sufficient evidence to prove guilt.

In response to the ruling, Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯), a spokesperson for Ma’s office, told the press that Ma was grateful for the ruling.    [FULL  STORY]