TAIPEI - FORMER Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian insisted on Monday he was innocent, as he appeared in court for a pre-trial hearing on graft charges he says are politically motivated.

The 58-year-old, out of office for less than a year, arrived at court in handcuffs under tight security in a case that has electrified this island of 23 million people since Chen's arrest in November.

Chen and his family are alleged to have taken more than US$10 million (S$14.5 million) in bribes from an industrial tycoon.

'I'm not guilty,' he told the court. 'Saying that I took bribes, I would rather die.'

Three other co-defendants are also due to appear at the hearing for their roles in scandals that have implicated Chen and his family.

Monday's session is the beginning of a three-day preliminary hearing into the case against the former president, who was arrested in November on charges of embezzlement and money laundering.

No date has yet been set for the trial itself to begin.

Before Monday's court session, Chen's lawyer Cheng Wen-lung called for the former president to receive a fair hearing.

'This case is drawing much attention. We hope the former president will receive a fair trial, so that the truth behind the case will come out,' the lawyer said.

The pro-independence Chen has repeatedly insisted that the charges against him are politically motivated, accusing President Ma Ying-jeou's Beijing-friendly government of leading a witch hunt.

Chen, who left office in May last year after serving a maximum two terms as president, is the island's first leader to be detained on criminal charges.

Chen, who came to power eight years ago pledging to fight corruption, faces life in prison if convicted on all counts of embezzling public funds, taking bribes and money laundering. -- AFP