Former Taiwanese President on trial

Taiwan's defiant former President stood in the dock of a Taipei courtroom last night, as the formal phase of his multimillion-dollar graft trial began amid high security and mixed expectations.

Chen Shui Bian, 58, faces life imprisonment if convicted on charges of embezzling T$104 million ($5.61 million) from a special presidential fund, receiving bribes worth at least T$9 million in connection with a government land procurement deal and laundering part of the funds through Swiss bank accounts.

He denies the charges saying they are part of an effort by President Ma Ying Jeou and his Nationalist Party to curry favour with China.