Wu Shu-chen, wife of former Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian, was ordered by prosecutors on Thursday to begin her jail term on February 18.

Wu was sentenced by the Taiwan High Court to a combined jail term of 17 years and six months last December for graft cases that also concerned her husband.

Wu will be sent to the Pei Teh Hospital affiliated with the Taichung prison in central Taiwan given her health condition, the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office in southern Taiwan ordered. It added that the hospital had prepared to respond to Wu's illness and would decide whether to let her stay after she undergoes medical observations.

Wu, who was paralyzed and wheelchair bound, might be put on medical parole or sent to a designated place if she cannot take care of herself in the prison hospital.

Wu was also fined 154 million New Taiwan dollars (5 million U.S. dollars) for the charge.

On Dec. 6, Chen Shui-bian was sentenced to 17 years and 6 months in jail. Chen is now in prison. It is the first time that a former leader of Taiwan has been jailed.