<div><p>Taiwanese prosecutors are mulling more legal action against the island's former president and his wife, just days after the pair were jailed for life for corruption, it was reported Sunday.</p><p>Investigators are examining Chen Shui-bian's alleged role in a further six cases, ranging from embezzlement of secret diplomatic funds to taking bribes and money laundering, the Taipei-based China Times said, without naming its source.</p><p>Taipei District Court sentenced Chen to life in jail on Friday after a corruption trial that he said was a political vendetta by the China-friendly Kuomintang government for his lifelong push to declare formal independence from China.</p><p>The 58-year-old was convicted of embezzling state funds, laundering money, accepting bribes and forgery. His wheelchair-bound wife Wu Shu-chen also received a life sentence.</p><p>The couple were also ordered to pay a combined fine of 500 million Taiwan dollars (15.24 million US).</p><p>Prosecutors are looking into evidence that allegedly shows Chen embezzled more than 300,000 US dollars from secret diplomatic funds during his 11 overseas visits as president, the Times said.</p><p>Chen, whose eight years as president ended in May last year, insists his trial was a political witch-hunt. The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which he once led, urged the government to free him immediately.</p><p>"It is no longer necessary to detain former president Chen after the verdict. We demand his immediate release to ensure his full legal rights" during the appeal, the party said in a statement.</p><p>The United Daily News said the High Court is due to rule by September 25 if to continue detaining Chen.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=58672212&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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