Ma Ying-jeou AP PHOTO

Ma, of the main opposition Nationalists, remains the favorite to take over from President Chen Shui-bian of the governing Democratic Progressive Party in the March 2008 presidential poll.

Before entering his plea, the 56-year-old Harvard-educated lawyer told the court he had done nothing wrong in diverting $333,000 of public money into his private account while serving as mayor of Taipei between 1998 and 2006.

If convicted on the charges, Ma could face up to seven years in prison.

The Japan Times Weekly: April 7, 2007
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