Scammer
Banned
Chen Shui-bian, left, steps out of a prison van before going into the High Court in Taipei on November 27, 2009.
Taiwan's former president will stay behind bars for at least 11 more years, the island's Supreme Court has ruled, official sources said Friday.
The decision was reached late Thursday based on bribery convictions in two high-profile cases against former President Chen Shui-bian -- a land deal and a personnel appointment, the official Central News Agency said.
He also will be stripped of political rights and privileges due to former presidents, said court spokesman Chang Chun-tsan.
Chen's wife, Wu Shu-jien, was sentenced to 19 years in prison on two bribery charges and to seven months in prison for money laundering. She also will be stripped of political rights and privileges.
The couple will have to pay fines totaling 400 million New Taiwan Dollars (US$13.2 million).
Chen will be retried in the Taiwan High Court on accusations of embezzling state funds, laundering money and taking bribes in connection with a construction project, the Central News Agency said.
He served as president from 2000 to 2008, advocating independence for Taiwan, which China regards as a renegade territory.
