LONDON (AFP) - Indonesia's former president Mohamed Suharto holds the dubious title of being the most corrupt world leader in recent history, heading a "Top 10" corruption list. Plundering a family fortune estimated at anything between 15 billion and 35 billion US dollars (12.4 to 29 billion euros) during his 32-year reign from 1967, Suharto was a clear winner, according to British-based Transparency International. The group gave a corruption "top 10" for global political leaders over the past 20 years, released to coincide with the release of its annual Global Corruption Report, a round-up of government graft worldwide. In second place was former Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos, deposed in 1986, who plundered between five and 10 billion dollars, Transparency International estimated. The Philippines has the unfortunate boast of featuring two of its former presidents in the top 10, with Joseph Estrada, ousted in 2001, making the final spot with a haul of 78 to 80 million dollars. Coming in third was late dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, who acquired around five billion dollars when he ruled Zaire -- now the Democratic Republic of Congo -- from 1965 to 1997, despite an average income per capita which even now is only 80 dollars per year. "Political corruption undermines the hopes for prosperity and stability of developing countries, and damages the global economy," said Transparency International chairman Peter Eigen. "The abuse of political power for private gain deprives the most needy of vital public services, creating a level of despair that breeds conflict and violence. "It also hits the pockets of taxpayers and shareholders worldwide. The problem must be tackled at the national and international level." Despite his estimated gains, Suharto escaped prosecution when an Indonesian court ruled in September 2000 that he was mentally and physically unfit to stand trial. The former dictator has suffered several minor strokes and other physical ailments since stepping down. The complete top 10, with the dates of the rule and estimated sum stolen, are as follows: 1. Mohamed Suharto, Indonesia, 1967-98, 15 to 35 billion dollars 2. Ferdinand Marcos, Philippines, 1972-86, five to 10 billion 3. Mobutu Sese Seko, Zaire, 1965-97, five billion 4. Sani Abacha, Nigeria, 1993-98, two to five billion 5. Slobodan Milosevic, Serbia/Yugoslavia, 1989-2000, one billion 6. Jean-Claude Duvalier, Haiti, 1971-86, 300 to 800 million 7. Alberto Fujimori, Peru, 1990-2000, 600 million 8. Pavlo Lazarenko, Ukraine, 1996-97, 114 to 200 million 9. Arnoldo Aleman, Nicaragua, 1997-2000, 100 million 10. Joseph Estrada, Philippines, 1998-2001, 78 to 80 million
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