Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) was indicted yesterday on charges of embezzling state funds, becoming the second democratically elected Taiwanese president to be indicted on corruption charges.

The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office Special Investigation Panel (SIP) has accused Lee and a top aide of illegally siphoning US$7.8 million from secret diplomatic funds used by the National Security Bureau (NSB) and laundering the money during his terms in office from 1988 to 2000.

If convicted, the 88-year-old Lee could face at least 10 years in prison, although prosecutors have indicated that they may ask for more lenient sentencing due to his age.