Taipei - Many people in Taiwan on Wednesday welcomed the detainment of former President Chen Shui-bian on graft charges, accusing him of being corrupt and greedy, but independence supporters warned of potentially violent repercussions.

After the Taipei District Court on Wednesday ordered Chen, 57, detained at the Taipei Penitentiary, some people set off firecrackers and popped champagne to celebrate.

Taipei  - Taiwan's former president Chen Shui-bian was remanded into custody Wednesday after his arrest on graft allegations, becoming first former president to be detained in Taiwan's history.

The Taipei District Court ordered Chen detained at about 7 am (2300 GMT Tuesday) following an overnight court hearing, which opened after his detention by the Supreme Prosecutor's Office, which questioned Chen Tuesday.

Taipei - Taiwan prosecutors on Tuesday requested that former president Chen Shui-bian be detained over corruption allegations, a spokesman said.

"We have asked that the suspect be detained under the concern that if freed, he might tamper evidence over his role in alleged embezzlement and bribe taking," said prosecutor Chen Yun-nan, spokesman of the Special Investigation Task Force under Supreme Prosecutor's Office.

Taipei  - Taiwan prosecutors on Tuesday requested that former president Chen Shui-bian be detained over embezzlement allegations, according to TV reports.

The Supreme Prosecutor's Office made the request to the Taipei District Court after questioning Chen for seven hours over his alleged embezzlement of government funds and money laundering during his 2000-2008 tenure, cable TV channel CTI reported.