TAIPEI - A Taiwan court on Thursday rejected former president Chen Shui-bian's appeal for release on bail, two weeks after he was sentenced to life in jail on corruption charges, a report said.

The High Court decided to keep Chen in detention at a facility just outside Taipei, where he has been in custody since December on corruption charges, according to the cable news network TVBS.

Judges said they agreed with prosecutors that Chen, who had hoped for release to prepare his appeal against his conviction, could try to flee, collude with other suspects or destroy evidence.