TAIPEI , Taiwan ( CNN ) -- Former Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian was convicted Friday on corruption and money laundering charges , and was sentenced to life in prison , according to officials at Taipei City Court . Former Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian walks inside the Taipei Detention Centre in Tucheng on Friday . He was fined 200 million New Taiwan dollars ( U.S. $ 6.1 million ) as well . Chen 's wife , Wu Shu-chen , who earlier had been convicted of lying to prosecutors , also was convicted on similar charges . She received a life sentence and was fined 300 million New Taiwan dollars ( U.S. $ 9.1 million ) , according to the Central News Agency , Taiwan 's official news agency . The former president was not at the courthouse when the verdict was read . He had asked to be excused and was being held at a detention center . Supporters of Chen gathered outside the courthouse hours before the verdict , wearing bright-green shirts , and carrying yellow balloons and banners . Riot police stood by in case the crowd got out of control as they protested the verdict . The former president 's corruption trial began in March . It is the first for a former head of state , and has gripped the island for months . He has denied wrongdoing and has said the charges are politically motivated . Prosecutors say Chen embezzled 600 million New Taiwan dollars ( U.S. $ 17.7 million ) , took bribes , laundered money and illegally removed classified documents from the president 's office . Chen has countered that the bribe money was actually political donations . He has also said that a special presidential fund from which he is accused of embezzling does not clearly say what the money can and can not be used for . Ahead of Friday 's verdict , the island 's former first lady was sentenced to a year in prison for lying in her husband 's corruption case . Wu was convicted on charges that she helped her son , daughter and son-in-law provide false testimony . Prosecutors said the former first couple 's son has a Swiss bank account with $ 22 million they think are illegal proceeds . The challenge for prosecutors was to prove that Chen handed out political favors in exchange for money . The former president said he was being persecuted politically by his successor . Chen 's party favors independence for Taiwan . His successor , President Ma Ying-jeou , favors closer ties with mainland China . Journalist Yin Chen contributed to this report .
Riot police stand by , as Chen supporters gather outside courthouse . Image copyrightAFPImage caption Former first lady Wu Shu-chen receives same sentence . Wu Shu-chen was also convicted last week of lying to prosecutors .