Former President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of corruption by a court in Taipei.
Chen was charged with embezzlement, taking bribes and money laundering, involving a total of $US15 million while in office from 2000-2008.
Chen denied the charges, saying they were politically motivated.
His wife, Wu Shu-chen, who is already jailed for perjury in the case, was also sentenced to life for corruption.
Taipei District Court convicted Chen on six charges and Wu on seven charges. The were also fined $US15 million.
A spokesman for Chen said the sentence was "illegal", pointing to a decision to replace the judges in mid-trial. The former president has said he will appeal.
Chen has previously said the charges were constructed by the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) government in a political vendetta. The BBC reports he has admitted accepting money, but said it was campaign contributions.
Supporters say he is being persecuted for his pro-independence views by the current government, which favours closer relations with China.
Chen and his wife were both sentenced to life for embezzling $US3.15 million from a special presidential fund.
