Former President Chen Shui-bian has filed an appeal with Taiwan's Supreme Court, challenging his conviction on corruption, forgery and money laundering charges and a 20-year jail sentence handed down by a lower court, Chen's attorney said Tuesday. The Taiwan High Court in a ruling on June 11 reduced the sentences of Chen and his wife Wu Shu-jen on graft charges from life to 20 years, saying the amount that Chen was accused of embezzling was less than that recognized by the Taipei District Court in the initial trial. The court also cut the fines for Chen to NT$170 million (US$5.2 million) from NT$200 million and for Wu to NT$200 million from NT$300 million. In the June 11 ruling, the former president's son, Chen Chih- chung, and his wife Huang Jui-ching, both charged with money laundering, received sentences of 14 months and one year, respectively, a reduction from 30 months and 20 months. The former president filed the appeal on the grounds that the state affairs funds that he was charged with embezzling were used in accordance with past practice. He also argued that there was no evidence to prove his involvement in the Longtan land acquisition case, and that other payments received from business people, allegedly for favors, were political contributions. Chen also appealed against the extension of his detention for two months handed down by the Taiwan High Court on June 18. The High Court said Chen's detention, which was set to end June 23, would be extended until August 23 because Chen might flee Taiwan and he has yet to return all the money he was convicted of laundering abroad. 