Germany's Former President Goes On Trial Over 'Favours'

Ex German President Christian Wulff is going on trial accused of receiving and granting favours in office.

The first hearing in the trial on corruption charges against Ex German President Germany's former President Christian Wulff began on Thursday in court in the city of Hannover.

He is alleged to have accepted the payment of hotel bills by a film producer in return for lobbying while he was premier of Lower Saxony in 2008, reports BBC.

Arriving in court Wulff said he was certain he would dispel the allegations against him "because I always behaved correctly in office", as cited by BBC.

Prosecutors had sought to put the former president on trial for corruption, but the court only approved the less serious charges.

Wulff and had rejected an offer from the prosecutor in March to settle the case with a fine - a procedure allowed for cases not considered especially serious, reports BBC.

If convicted, he faces up to three years in jail or a fine.

Christian Wulff, who stepped down in February 2012 after less than two years in the post is Germany's first former head of state to answer charges in court.

The 54-year-old rejects the allegations and has vowed to clear his name.

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