SHANGHAI  Chen Shui-bian, the former president of Taiwan and an ardent advocate of continued independence for the island, was detained by the police there late Tuesday after prosecutors sought his formal arrest on corruption and money-laundering charges.

Mr. Chen, who served two terms as president and left office in the spring while his administration was mired in a corruption scandal, was led to court in handcuffs on Tuesday afternoon after several hours of questioning by prosecutors in Taipei, Taiwan’s capital.

The former president paused briefly before television cameras, raised his arms and defiantly shouted, “Long live Taiwan!” and “Political persecution!”

Late Tuesday evening, however, Taipei television reported that the court hearing had been suspended and that Mr. Chen had been taken to a hospital complaining that he had been roughed up by the police.