Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian's son-in-law Chao Chien-ming's jail sentence has been increased to seven years by an appeal court, one year longer than the sentence given in the first trial, according to local media reports.

Taiwan's "Supreme Court" on Monday handed down the ruling and also fined Chao 30 million Taiwan dollars (920,000 U.S. dollars).

Chao was given a heavier sentence because the "Supreme Court" held that the money Chao illicitly derived from insider trading exceeded 100 million Taiwan dollars, local media said.

In his first trial, Chao Chien-ming was convicted of using insider information to purchase stock in the Taiwan Trust and Development Corp. On Dec. 27, 2006, Chao was sentenced to six years in jail and fined 30 million Taiwan dollars.

In April, Taiwan's "Supreme Court" began hearing Chao's appeal against his conviction.

Source: Xinhua