Taiwan's High Court rejected former President Chen Shui-bian's appeal of his conviction on graft charges Friday, but cut his life sentence to 20 years.

台湾高等法院周五驳回了前总统陈水扁就贪污罪提起的上诉，不过把无期徒刑减为有期徒刑20年。

Former first lady Wu Shu-chen's conviction on graft charges also was upheld, but her life sentence was cut to 14 years.

法院还维持了陈水扁夫人吴淑珍贪污罪的原判，不过把无期徒刑减为有期徒刑14年。

Mr. Chen, 59 years old, was found guilty in September 2009 by the Taipei District Court of embezzling $3.15 million from a special presidential fund, receiving bribes worth at least $9 million, and laundering some of the money through Swiss bank accounts. He has been incarcerated in a suburban Taipei jail for the past 17 months.

陈水扁现年59岁。2009年9月，台北地方法院查证陈水扁贪污国务机要费315万美元，受贿价值至少900万美元，并通过瑞士的银行帐户洗钱。过去17个月，他一直被关押在台北郊区的一所监狱中。

Following Friday's decision, Chen has the right to appeal to the Supreme Court.

在周五的判决之后，陈水扁有权向最高法院提起上诉。

The High Court is also considering a separate request by Mr. Chen to be released. A ruling is expected some time before June 23, when his detention order expires.

高等法院也在审理陈水扁要求获释的请求。预计裁决将在6月23日陈水扁的羁留令到期之前做出。

Throughout the proceedings against him, Mr. Chen has maintained his innocence, insisting that he is the victim of efforts by current President Ma Ying-jeou to punish him for his pro-independence views.

在整个审判过程中，陈水扁一直称自己是清白的，坚持说自己是现任总统马英九惩罚他的台独立场的牺牲品。

Since succeeding Mr. Chen two years ago, Mr. Ma has turned the corner on his predecessor's anti-China policies, moving rapidly to improve relations with the mainland, from which Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949.

自两年前接替陈水扁担任总统以来，马英九一反陈水扁的台独政策，迅速改善与大陆的关系。

—Copyright 2010 Associated Press

本文译自美联社