TAIPEI: A Taiwanese court Tuesday found former president Ma Ying-jeou guilty in a political leaks case, his first conviction in a raft of lawsuits brought against him since he stepped down two years ago. Ma was also convicted of breaching the personal data protection act and of “using his presidential power not for executing presidential legal duties“, the court added. The leaks controversy sparked a political storm in 2013 and saw two top officials resign, while thousands of protesters took to the streets to demand Ma step down. The probe revolved around information gained from surveillance on Ker which implicated the then parliamentary speaker, a rival of Ma, in influence peddling. While still in office Ma was protected by political immunity.

Source: New Strait Times May 15, 2018 07:30 UTC