'I couldn't sleep. I have been thinking again and again since 4am about Chao Yu-chu. I hate him so much because he dares not shoulder [full] responsibility [for the scandal]. This kind of person should go kill himself,' she shouted in front of television cameras.

Ms Chen, known for her outspokenness and quick temper, was on her way to work at a dental clinic when she suddenly lashed out in response to questions from reporters about how she felt about the sentence handed down to her husband.

The high court on Tuesday sentenced Chao Chien-ming to seven years in jail after rejecting his appeal. The court found that he and his father, Chao Yu-chu, had collaborated to make more than NT$100 million (HK$23.84 million) from insider trading in the stock of the once financially troubled property developer, Taiwan Development Corporation.

Chao Chien-ming originally was sentenced to six years in jail by the district court, but the high court ruled that under the newly revised stock trading law a minimum sentence of seven years should be applied to people reaping more than NT$100 million through insider trading.

Chao Yu-chu was ordered to serve 91/2 years, one year more than the sentence imposed by the district court. Father and son must also each pay a fine of NT$30 million.

Chao Chien-ming's lawyers said on Tuesday he would appeal to the Supreme Court.

The conviction against his son-in-law has dealt a fresh blow to Mr Chen, who has been troubled by the trial of his wife, Wu Shu-chen. Wu has been charged with embezzling NT$14 million in state funds for secret diplomatic missions.

In addition, Mr Chen has also been hit by a string of corruption scandals implicating his government. He survived two recall motions initiated by the opposition to demand his resignation and was forced to apologise for his son-in-law's case after Chao Chien-ming was indicted last year.

He also lashed out at Chao Yu-chu for using the president's influence for personal gain.

Yesterday, Mr Chen shunned reporters' questions over his daughter's verbal attack on Chao Yu-chu.

Working at a hospital in the southern county of Tainan yesterday, pending his appeal, Chao Chien-ming also declined to comment on his wife's outburst, simply saying: 'I will not be beaten so easily.'

Chao Yu-chu, whom the court said collaborated with his son in the insider-trading case, was not available for comment.

But the first daughter insisted that her father-in-law was the one who should shoulder the blame for the scandal.

'I believe he is the one to blame. If he does not have the guts to take responsibility, he does not deserve to be a human being,' she said, 'I take full responsibility for what I have said.'

Vice-President Annette Lu Hsiu-lien and legislators of the ruling, pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, expressed sympathy with the first daughter, saying the pressure she had faced over her husband's case had been too strong. Chen Hsin-yu had to take care of her children and work part-time to support the family.

Ms Chen, a dentist, married Chao Chien-ming six years ago and the couple have three sons.