A local court of first instance in Taipei announced a verdict of "not guilty" on Tuesday for Former Kuomintang (KMT) party chairman Ma Ying-jeou in the special fund case.

Ma was accused of mishandling more than 11 million Taiwan dollars (US$330,000) in expense funds during his tenure as mayor of Taipei.

Ma resigned as chairman of the KMT, Taiwan's leading opposition party, after being indicted on Feb. 13, but declared that he would run for the 2008 Taiwan leadership election. The Taiwan authorities allocate the expense funds to executive officers, also known as special allowance funds. Official receipts are required for half of the funds. Consuming the other half only requires the official’s signature.

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2007)