Ma, a former justice minister and chairman of the opposition Kuomintang, was charged in February for embezzling his “special allowance account” while serving as mayor, but given a “not guilty” ruling by the court last week. About 6,500 chiefs at all levels of government are receiving the same allowance in the same manner as Ma, including former premiers Yu Shyi-kun, Hsieh Chang-tin and Su Tseng-chang. Ma, the opposition Kuomintang’s candidate in next March’s presidential election, was the only one indicted. Just as Ma’s supporters were celebrating his innocence verdict, Hou Kuan-jen, the embarrassed chief prosecutor in the Ma case, told a press conference: “Ma and his lawyer must apologize (to me), or I’ll take legal action against them.”

In response, Ma said: “I was the victim in this case and I haven’t asked anybody to apologize.” Hou has announced his decision to appeal to the Taiwan High Court against Ma’s “not-guilty” ruling.

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