Taipei  - Taiwan's Council of Grand Justices Friday rejected a petition by former president Chen Shui-bian charging that the corruption trial against him was unconstitutional, dealing another blow to the graft-tainted ex-leader.

Chen sought a review in January by the council, the island's highest constitutional authority, over whether the consitution was violated by the Taipei District Court when it changed judges in the middle of Chen's trial.

A district court originally ordered Chen, who was detained for alleged corruption, to bereleased without bail after he was officially charged in mid-December.

But due to objections by prosecutors, the court decided to hold another hearing on whether to release Chen.

The judge later backed off and Tsai Shou-hsun, who dealt with the corruption case of Chen's wife, was named to handle both cases. Tsai Chen's bail requests and sentenced him and his wife to life in prison in September.

Chen had hoped that the trial would be considered void and illegal if ruled unconstitutional by the council.

The 58-year-old Chen has denied any wrongdoing, saying his trial and conviction were politically motivated by President Ma Ying-jeou, who wanted to jail him to please Beijing. Chen incurred China's wrath during his time in office as he pushed for formal independence.

Taiwan and China split at the end of a civil war in 1949. Beijing still considers Taiwan a wayward province that must be brought back to its fold.(dpa)