Ex-Taiwan President Ma indicted for alleged leak of probe detail

[TAIPEI] Ex-Taiwanese President Ma Ying-Jeou was indicted over the alleged leaks of judicial secrets during his time in office, according to an official with the Taipei prosecutor's office.

The former leader was accused of improperly disclosing details about an investigation and violating protections of personal information, Chang Chieh-Chin, the capital's deputy chief prosecutor, said by phone Tuesday. Each violation carries a possible sentence of as many as three years in prison, Mr Chang said.

Mr Ma, 66, is confident in his innocence, a spokeswoman said by text message. He has been facing several investigations into official decisions made before his eight-year tenure as president ended in May.

Mr Ma was questioned while still in office over the disclosure of details of an investigation involving members of the legislature in 2013.

In June, current President Tsai Ing-Wen of the rival Democratic Progressive Party denied Mr Ma's request to visit Hong Kong under a state secrets law that restricts trips by former top officials for up to three years after they leave office. Ms Tsai's office said it rejected Mr Ma's request because Hong Kong was a "highly sensitive region".

BLOOMBERG