The Taipei district court plans to deliver a verdict on former Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian's corruption case on Sept. 11 this year, a spokesman for the Court announced on Wednesday, after the last hearing.

In the final plea, the prosecution not only reaffirmed the Chen's guilt, but also accused him of having acted shamefully and with total lack of conscience.

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) in public funds and accepting bribes of at least $ nine million in a land purchase deal.

Chen and his alleged collaborators are also accused of laundering the illegal income.

Chen was indicted on new corruption charges in May, as prosecutors said during his eight years in office, he and his wife took 10 million New Taiwan dollars in bribes from a local businesswoman, and demanded bribes and donations totaling 300 million New Taiwan dollars from a former banker.

On July 13, the Taipei court ordered Chen Shui-bian to be detained for another two months while his case continues.

The former president, in prison since December 30 to prevent him leaving the country or interfering with evidence, has always rejected any accusation.

He insists that the charges are part of a political process engineered by President Ma Yingjeou to please Beijing. Indeed, he has always been an ardent support of independence, attracting the continuous criticism of China.

After having maintained silence, on July 28 Chen took the stand to reiterate that this is an unfair trial. On Wednesday, his lawyer insisted that the sums of money he received were simply political donations to fund his campaign.

In addition his wife, Chen's son Chihchung Chen, daughter-in-law Huang Juiching, brother-in-law Wu Chinmao and 10 of his closest collaborators, have also been charged with various crimes.

This month his son acknowledged having helped his mother to transfer ill-gotten funds abroad, distancing himself from his father's stance of total negation. He also acknowledged that he had opened two bank accounts in Switzerland, at his mother's request, where he lodged $21 million.

However, at the beginning of July Wu asked her husband to admit his guilt and exonerate his son and daughter-in-law, who have always been unaware of the origins of the money. Wu admitted transferring money abroad, but still insists that the sum came from political donations.

If pronounced guilty, the former president risks life imprisonment.

Chen was elected Taiwan leader about nine years ago, but was ousted in an election in May last year.

China