Taipei  - Taiwan on Thursday opened a trial against ex-president Chen Shui-bian on graft charges. If convicted, Chen could face life imprisonment for corruption, money laundering and bribery.

On the first day of the trial at the Taipei District Court, the judge will hear testimony from Chen, Taiwan's president from 2000-2008, and two businessmen who allegedly gave millions of dollars to Chen in an illegal land deal. (dpa)