TAIPEI: Taiwan's High Court yesterday upheld a seven-year jail term and fine imposed on former president Chen Shui-bian's son-in-law for insider trading.

The ruling came a day after Mr Chen was locked up in a corruption probe and is the latest blow to the former leader's family, which has been implicated in a string of scandals.

Besides the jail term, Mr Chen's son-in-law Chao Chien-ming was fined NT$30 million (S$1.4 million) for making illegal profits of more than NT$100 million through insider trading.

He had been originally sentenced in December 2006 to six years in jail by a district court, but the High Court later increased that to seven years.

He appealed to the Supreme Court, which ordered a new hearing that began in September.

Chao said he would appeal against the latest ruling.

'I was hoping that justice would prove my innocence...I am still looking forward to a fair trial,' he told reporters.

He was sacked from the prestigious National Taiwan University Hospital following his arrest in May 2006 on the charges, and now works for a hospital in southern Taiwan.

Besides Chao, Mr Chen's wife, brother-in-law, son and daughter-in-law are currently being investigated in a separate money-laundering case.

The Chens have admitted to wiring some US$20 million (S$30 million) overseas but they have claimed that the money was leftover donations from Mr Chen's political campaigns.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE