Taipei - A Taiwan court Monday ruled that ex-president Chen Shui-bian should remain in custody for two more months despite his hospitalization for weak health due to a hunger strike to protest against what he claims is injustice.

"The court decided to extend his detention period for two more months until July 25 on the grounds that he could (if freed) tamper with evidence, threaten witnesses and destroy evidence," said Huang Chun-ming, spokesman of the Taipei District Court.

Huang said prosecutors were still investigating other alleged illegal activities by Chen and his family, and it would obstruct their work if Chen was released.

Chen, 58, requested bail from court last Thursday. He has been held on charges of corruption since late December at the Taipei Detention Centre, during which he had staged two previous hunger strikes.

Claiming "illegal detention, illegal prosecution and illegal trial," Chen started fasting Thursday after his request for release was postponed by the court earlier that day. He was rushed to hospital Saturday due to heart problems and dehydration.

On Monday, Panchiao Hospital said he suffered from lung inflammation, dehydration, minor artery problems and gout. It said Chen was still unfit to return to the detention centre.

Chen's wife, Wu Shu-chen and son, Chen Chih-chung, who visitied him at hospital asked him to end his hunger strike.

Chen has insisted that his suffering was a result of political persecution by President Ma Ying-jeou, who joined Beijing in suppressing him because of his promotion of Taiwan independence.

Chen faces charges of embezzling 2.97 million US dollars in state funds and accepting 14 million US dollars in bribes as well as money laundering, influence peddling, extortion and document forgery during his time in office, which ended in May 2008.

Last Tuesday, prosecutors brought fresh graft charges against him for illegally demanding "political contributions." (dpa)