Former Taiwan president Lee Teng-hui, the island's first directly elected leader, was indicted Thursday on charges that he and a former economic adviser embezzled funds from Taiwan's National Security Bureau from 1994 to 1999.

　　臺灣最高法院檢察署周四說，已對前總統(tǒng)李登輝及其擔(dān)任總統(tǒng)期間的經(jīng)濟顧問劉泰英提出起訴，指控他們在1994年至1999年期間侵占了國家安全局名下的資金。

　　The 88-year-old Mr. Lee, widely viewed as the father of democracy in Taiwan, and adviser Liu Tai-ying were accused of having used a fund that conducts secret diplomatic activities to embezzle US$7.8 million.

　　高檢署在一份23頁的聲明中說，現(xiàn)年88歲、1988年至2000年期間執(zhí)掌臺灣的李登輝，和20世紀90年代掌管國民黨財政的劉泰英，從一筆1,050萬美元、本是用于外交活動的資金中侵占了780萬美元。

　　The charges come just seven months ahead of the next presidential election, and analysts say they will have a strong impact on a recent thaw in economic relations with China.

　　這些指控提出的時間距臺灣下一屆總統(tǒng)選舉只有七個月。分析人士說這些指控會對臺灣和大陸最近解凍的經(jīng)濟關(guān)系造成很大影響。

　　In a statement, the Taiwan Supreme Prosecutors Office said Mr. Lee used the funds to set up a private think tank called Taiwan Research Institute. Prosecutors have been investigating Mr. Lee since 2002, when a media leak alleged embezzlement within the National Security Bureau, according to the 23-page indictment. Mr. Lee has repeatedly denied charges of embezzlement.

　　在一份聲明中，臺灣最高法院檢察署說，李登輝利用這筆資金建立了一個名叫臺灣綜合研究院（Taiwan Research Institute）的私人智庫。據(jù)一份長達23頁的起訴書顯示，自2002年以來檢察官就一直在調(diào)查李登輝。當時一份經(jīng)由媒體曝光的資料顯示李登輝涉嫌侵占挪用國家安全局內(nèi)部公款。李登輝多次否認侵占公款的指控。

　　Responding to the indictment, Mr. Lee's attorney, Wellington Koo, said Mr. Lee was questioned by the prosecutor May 31 but that there was insufficient evidence to charge him with the crime.

　　李登輝的辯護律師顧立雄（Wellington Koo）在回應(yīng)起訴書時說，李登輝5月31日已經(jīng)受到檢察官的質(zhì)詢，但檢察官證據(jù)不足，無法對李登輝提出相關(guān)指控。

　　"Furthermore, the prosecutor never gave the defendant a chance to argue his case before the indictment was handed down. The rights of the defendant were completely ignored," said Mr. Koo, who also defended former President Chen Shui-bian against corruption charges.

　　顧立雄說，此外，在起訴書下來之前，檢察官從未給被告一個機會替自己辯護。被告的權(quán)利被完全忽視了。顧立雄此前也曾替被控貪污的前總統(tǒng)陳水扁辯護。

　　Mr. Chen, who succeeded Mr. Lee as president in 2000 and served two four-year terms, is in prison after being convicted on a range of corruption charges in 2009.

　　在2000年接替李登輝出任總統(tǒng)并成功連任的陳水扁目前在獄中服刑。2009年法院宣判陳水扁一系列貪腐罪名成立。

　　The prosecutor said a sentence for the crimes, if Mr. Lee is convicted, could range from 10 years to life, but noted that due to Mr. Lee's advanced age, any sentencing would likely be lenient.

　　檢察官說，如果李登輝被定罪，可能被判10年有期徒刑到終生監(jiān)禁。但鑒于李登輝的年齡，法院可能從輕發(fā)落。

　　Mr. Lee, the first Taiwanese president born on the island, is widely credited with ushering Taiwan into democracy after years of autocratic rule by Chiang Kai-shek and his son Chiang Ching-kuo. Mr. Lee succeeded Chiang Ching-kuo as president of Taiwan in 1988 and in 1996 became the island's first directly elected president.

　　臺灣脫離蔣介石及其兒子蔣經(jīng)國的威權(quán)統(tǒng)治走向民主，被普遍歸功于李登輝。李登輝于1988年接替故世的蔣經(jīng)國擔(dān)任臺灣總統(tǒng)，1996年成為臺灣第一位直接選舉出來的總統(tǒng)。

　　Forced out of the Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang, after stepping down from office in 2000 and setting up his own pro-independence party known as the Taiwan Solidarity Union, Mr. Lee has remained a powerful political figure in Taiwan and is a supporter of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party.

　　李登輝在2000年卸下總統(tǒng)職務(wù)后被迫退出國民黨，他在臺灣仍然是一個有實力的政治人物，目前是在野的民進黨的支持者。

　　Taiwan Solidarity Union Chairman and close confidant to Mr. Lee, Huang Kun-huei, accused President Ma Ying-jeou of using his influence to sway the prosecutors, calling it a 'dirty trick' by Mr. Ma.

　　李登輝的密友、臺灣團結(jié)聯(lián)盟主席黃昆輝指責(zé)總統(tǒng)馬英九利用其影響力左右檢察官。黃昆輝將之稱作馬英九“骯臟的把戲”。

　　"This is Ma's way of getting revenge against former president Lee, who has urged voters to vote against him to safeguard Taiwan. Ma knows Lee's rallying cry could greatly impact voter sentiment before the presidential election," said Mr. Huang.

　　黃昆輝說，這是馬英九報復(fù)前總統(tǒng)李登輝的手段。李登輝曾呼吁選民投票反對馬英九以保衛(wèi)臺灣。馬英九知道李登輝的煽動性口號會在總統(tǒng)大選前極大影響選民情緒。

　　The election is scheduled for Jan. 14, and will pit Mr. Ma against DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen.

　　按照計劃，大選定于明年1月14日舉行，馬英九將和民進黨主席蔡英文競爭總統(tǒng)職位。

　　A spokesman for the Presidential Office said the office would issue a statement later.

　　臺灣總統(tǒng)辦公室的一名發(fā)言人說，該部門隨后會發(fā)布一份聲明。