Former Taiwan leader Lee Teng-hui, who was charged of embezzling multi-million U.S. dollars in "security funds," was absent Friday from a scheduled court hearing for alleged health reasons.

Local prosecutors in June 2011 indicted Lee on graft and money-laundering charges, accusing him of embezzling some 7.79 million U.S. dollars in "security funds" while he served as the island's leader from 1988 to 2000. The Taipei District Court was scheduled to hold its first hearing of the case Friday.

Just ten minutes prior to the opening of the hearing, the court was informed of by Lee's lawyer that Lee has had a health relapse and requested absence from the court.

Lee, who has coronary heart disease, felt unwell when he got up early Friday and was diagnosed by his doctor as having had a relapse of angina symptoms, according to his lawyer.