Taipei  - Taipei District Court will issue its decision in former president Chen Shui-bian's graft trial on September 11, the court announced Friday.

Chen, 58, president from 2000-2008, has been held at the Taipei Detention Centre since December 30, 2008 on charges of corruption. His trial began on March 26.

Chen and his wife were charged with embezzling 2.97 million US dollars in state funds, accepting 14 million US dollars in bribes, money laundering, influence peddling, extortion and document forgery during his two terms.

He has denied the charges, calling his detention and trial political persecution by the administration of President Ma Ying-jeou from the China-friendly Chinese Nationalist Party.

If convicted, Chen could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, court officials said. (dpa)