TAIPEI - TAIWANESE authorities said on Friday they have turned down a Japanese newspaper's request to interview ex-president Chen Shui-bian at the detention centre where he is being held on graft charges.

Japan's biggest newspaper, the Asahi Shimbun, was denied the interview because it wanted to ask Chen about his ongoing corruption case, the justice ministry said.

'Although former president Chen has been detained, he frequently voices his opinions through his lawyers or his office ... this (decision) will not prevent him from expressing his views,' it said in a statement.

The detention centre clamped down on visits to Chen after he proclaimed his innocence in an unauthorised interview with the Financial Times newspaper in February.

Chen's office must now obtain advance permission for media interviews, as well as providing the centre with details of anyone else who wants to visit.

Chen has been in detention since December and was in court earlier this week for the first of several cases he says have been orchestrated by a vindictive government angered by his anti-China views.

The ex-leader, whose tough stance on China has been replaced by the Beijing-friendly policies of his successor Ma Ying-jeou, has been accused of embezzlement, money laundering, taking bribes and other charges.

Some legal experts have expressed concerns about the handling of the case, including the decision to detain him and to change the presiding judge. Chen has twice gone on hunger-strike in protest at the proceedings. -- AFP