Taipei - Taiwan's High Court Wednesday ordered the Taipei District Court to review its earlier ruling in favour of releasing scandal-tainted former president Chen Shui-bian from pre-trial detention.

The decision dealt a fresh blow to Chen, whom prosecutors sought to place back in custody after indicting him Friday on charges of corruption and money laundering.

"While considering the possibility over whether the defendant would flee Taiwan, the high court has also thought of the possibility that the defendant might collude with others to tamper with evidence," said judge Wen Yao-yuan, spokesman of the high court.

"For this, we have asked that the district court reopen a hearing on whether to release the defendant," said Wen.

Chen, who had been detained since November 12 on suspicion of corruption, was freed without bail on Friday.

According to the district court, it was unlikely Chen would flee abroad to avoid trial, given that he was an ex-leader and that it was a violation of human rights to continue his detention after he was officially charged.

Prosecutors, however, found the district court's ruling unconvincing and appealed to the high court. They said Chen was implicated in several other alleged bribery cases and embezzlement of secret diplomatic funds, and he could tamper with evidence if not placed in custody.

Chen stressed Wednesday it would be impossible for him to run, saying he could have done that before he was held in November and that Taiwan was his only home.

"I would never run away because I love this land and people here dearly," the pro-independence ex-leader told the high court.

Chen, 58, a two-time president between 2000 and 2008, has claimed the prosecution was politically motivated because his successor Ma Ying-jeou of the China-friendly Nationalist Party wants to placate Beijing.

Chen has advocated an independent Taiwan, a status China has repeatedly warned would lead to a cross-strait war.

Despite a split at the end of a civil war in 1949, Beijing considers Taiwan an integral part of China that must be brought back to its fold, if necessary by force. (dpa)