Former Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian has been indicted on new corruption charges, prosecutors said in Taipei on Tuesday.

While in office, Chen and his wife Wu Shu-chen took 10 million New Taiwan dollars (302,000 U.S. dollars) in bribes from a local businesswoman, and demanded bribes and donations totaling 300 million New Taiwan dollars from a former banker, prosecutors said at a press conference.

Chen was first indicted on Dec. 12 for money laundering and bribery. He and his wife were charged with embezzling 104 million New Taiwan dollars (3.15 million U.S. dollars) in public funds and accepting bribes of at least 9 million U.S. dollars in a land purchase deal. Chen and his collaborators are also accused of laundering the illegal income.

Chen has been in detention since last December and faces life in prison if convicted.

He was elected to the post of Taiwan leader eight years ago but was ousted in an election in May last year.

(Xinhua News Agency May 6, 2009)