A Taiwan court is expected to deliver a verdict in the corruption and money-laundering trial of its former leader Chen Shui-bian later today.

The Taipei district court will render the verdict at about 4 pm.

Chen said Thursday afternoon that he would not attend the court to hear the verdict and would ask lawyers in appealing to the court after the first verdict, Taiwan-based United Evening News reported.

In the final statements, the prosecution reaffirmed Chen's guilt, accused him of having "acted shamefully and with total lack of conscience."

Chen himself was not optimistic about the upcoming verdict when he spoke to Apple Daily at detention center in an interview.

"I will be given the heaviest penalty, life imprisonment, and continue to be held in detention," he said.

Speculation about the verdict has been hot. Hong Kong-based Next Magazine said legal experts predict the former leader is very likely to face a life sentence for abuse of power and for his uncooperative attitude toward the judicial probe.

According to Taiwan's legal practice, anyone given a life sentence for corruption will be detained until a second trial.

At a meeting on Wednesday, Democratic Progressive Party has pledged to "spare no efforts to support Chen" if the Taiwan authorities continued to detain Chen and prosecute him through "judiciary means."

Qiu Yi, a Kuomintang "lawmaker", said, "the date of issuing a verdict on Chen is very important to Taiwan because it is the time to see if a corrupt official can be severely punished or Taiwan's judiciary system is trustworthy."

Experts echoed that view.

"Heavy penalty on Chen is anticipated. It complies with Taiwan people's wishes," Wang Jianmin, a researcher at the Institute of Taiwan Studies of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

"Chen's possible conviction will spiritually deal a big blow to Taiwan's pro-independence forces. Chen has always labeled himself as a pro-independence forerunner, and the forerunner will probably spend the rest of his life in prison," Wang added.

Chen was accused of embezzlement, bribery, money laundering and forgery during his term as Taiwan leader. He has been in detention since December 30, 2008.

Chen has pleaded not guilty and insisted the allegations against him and his families were orchestrated by his successor Ma Ying-jeou, an advocate of improved ties with the mainland.

Source:Global Times