TAIPEI, Jan. 20 (Chinese media) -- Taiwan ex-leader Chen Shui-bian's two close aides Tuesday pleaded not guilty to the embezzlement charges also involving Chen and his family.
Ma Yung-cheng and Lin Teh-hsiun, both former officials in Chen's office, were summoned to the Taipei District Court at Chen's three-day pre-trial hearing on corruption charges on Tuesday.
The duo was accused of assisting Chen and his family in embezzling 104 million New Taiwan dollars (3.15 million U.S. dollars) in public funds during Chen's eight years in office.
Ma, summoned in the morning, refused to admit guilt, saying that as the director of the ex-leader's office, he merely worked for Chen and followed Chen's orders.
However, Ma apologized at the court for not telling the truth during the prosecutors' investigation over the past two years.
Lin, summoned in the afternoon, said he could not accept the charges, stressing he knew nothing about the operation of special funds.
Chen, who is being detained in a Taipei jail, was summoned to the hearing Monday and was charged with two new counts of blackmail and seeking profits on projects that he had not been in charge of.
The most serious term Chen could face if convicted is life in prison.
Chen rejected the charges, saying the court had degraded him into a rascal by the charge of blackmail.
Also summoned on Monday were Cai Ming-jhe, a friend of Chen's family; James Lee, the former chief of the Hsinchu Science Park; and Guo Cyuan-cing, the former chairman of the construction firm Rich Development.
Cai and Lee pleaded guilty in court, but Guo failed to appear.
The court had postponed another hearing set for Wednesday to February 24, as lawyers needed more time to prepare.
The three-day process will set the agenda for the trial, which is scheduled for February.
Chen has been in custody since Nov. 12. He was first indicted by prosecutors on Dec. 12 for money laundering and bribery while in office.
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