A former aide of Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian has been sentenced to 12 years in jail on corruption charges.

Chen Che-nan, former deputy secretary general of Chen Shuibian's office,was jailed for cheating businessman Liang Po-hsun out of six million New Taiwan dollars (US$185,000).

Chen took the money in return for offering to persuade a judge not to convict Liang of fraud, local media has reported.

Prosecutors originally called for an eight-year sentence for Chen, but on Wednesday the court handed down a 12-year term, saying the crime was more serious and tarnished Taiwan's judicial image, local media said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 14, 2006)