Taiwan ex-leader Ma Ying-jeou acquitted in leaks case

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Ma Ying-jeou, the leader of Taiwan from 2008 to 2016, has been acquitted in a political leaks case, according to local media.

The Taipei District Court announced on Friday afternoon that Ma had been found not guilty in all his charges. The former Taiwan leader was not present when the verdict was announced.

Ma was charged with leaking secrets and instructing prosecutors to disclose confidential information about a judicial probe in 2013. If convicted, he would have faced a maximum prison term of three years.

Former Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou arrives at the Taipei District Court, January 10, 2017. /AFP Photo

Ma's camp argued the evidence against him was not credible.

In a statement issued by his office, the 67-year-old expressed his gratitude and relief at the verdict, saying that he hoped future ex-leaders "would not have to face all kinds of meaningless hassles."

In March, Ma was cleared by the Taipei District Court of leaking secrets and defamation in a separate case related to the 2013 judicial probe.

Ma's Kuomintang (KMT) party was defeated by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Taiwan's leadership election last year, which saw Tsai Ing-wen become the first female leader of the island.

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