TAIPEI, Taiwan - Taiwan's detained former president Chen Shui-bian is planning to sue the judges who have refused to grant him bail three times while held on corruption charges, his office said Wednesday.

A panel of judges at Taipei District Court on Monday turned down Chen's latest bail request, his third, saying he might try to flee the island and accused him of attempting to interfere with the judicial process.

Chen's office rejected the interference claim and criticised the court for basing its decision on speculation.

"We condemn Judge Tsai Shou-hsun's court for making the absurd and reckless ruling to extend the detention three times," Chen's office said in a statement.

"We will collect relevant evidence to file a lawsuit against the panel of judges led by Tsai for abusing its power to detain Chen," it said.

Chen, who left office last year after serving a maximum eight-year term, is accused of embezzlement, money laundering, accepting bribes, influence peddling and forgery.

He denies the charges and says the allegations against him and his family are politically motivated and orchestrated by his China-friendly successor, President Ma Ying-jeou.

Meanwhile, a court-assigned lawyer has applied for Chen to be hospitalised for a foot injury - the ex-leader attended court on Wednesday in a wheelchair and wearing a cast.

It was not clear what the injury was or how it was sustained.

The former president, detained since late December, has dismissed his lawyers and refused to speak in recent court sessions to protest his detention and trial.

There are no limits under Taiwanese law on how long Chen can be detained.