A Taiwan court on Monday announced it would have a close-door trial on former leader Chen Shui-bian's corruption case on Jan. 15.

Taiwan's high court said in a statement that the new trial's procedure would not be opened to media on Friday in line with Taiwan's secrecy regulations since the case involved quite a few former senior officials.

It said the trial would begin at 9:30 a.m. on Friday at a special courtroom. Chen's wife Wu Shu-chen and Chen's former aids would be summoned to the court.

Chen and his wife were both sentenced to life in prison by the Taipei District Court in September last year for graft, embezzlement, money laundering and other abuses when he was in power from 2000 to 2008.

Chen and Wu were still appealing their sentences at Taiwan's high court. The court opened its second trial on Oct. 9 last year, and Chen Chen-hui, former treasurer of the ex-leader, pleaded guilty for her involvement in Chen's corruption case.