News reports say a Taiwan court has imposed a life sentence on former President Chen Shui-bian after convicting him of corruption.

Friday's verdict came as hundreds of Chen supporters demonstrated outside a downtown Taipei court holding flags and banners saying "free him" and "Chen's innocent."

Six TV stations say a three-judge Taipei District Court panel has found the 58-year-old Chen guilty on multiple corruption counts.

Chen was charged with embezzling $3.15 million during his 2000-2008 presidency from a special presidential fund, receiving bribes worth at least $9 million in connection with a government land deal, laundering some of the money through Swiss bank accounts, and forging documents.