Ma Ying-jeou, Taiwan's former opposition party chairman, appears in a Taipei courthouse April 3, 2007. Ma Ying-jeou was indicted on corruption charges during his tenure as mayor of Taipei. (Photo: TVBS)   Apr.4 - The former chairman of Taiwan's main opposition party, Ma Ying-jeou, went on trial Tuesday for corruption charges, in which it is alleged he misused his expense account during his time as mayor of Taipei from 1998 to 2006.

 

The China News Service quoted the 56-year-old former chairman of the Kuomintang Party (KMT) as saying he has faith in his innocence and high expectations as to the fairness of the Taipei court.

 

If convicted, he faces a minimum of seven years in prison.

 

Ma Ying-jeou resigned as chairman of the Kuomintang Party after his indictment but immediately announced he was running for Taiwan’s leader in 2008. He was elected KMT chairman in July 2005.