Chen Shui-bian still in poor health and needs care at home, prison medics
Authorities to review his condition before extending his medical parole
PUBLISHED : Friday, 30 January, 2015, 10:03am
UPDATED : Friday, 30 January, 2015, 10:03am
Lawrence Chung in Taipei
Taiwanese former president Chen Shui-bian reads news about his prison release in a local newspaper at his home in Kaohsiung earlier this month. Photo: EPA
Taichung Prison yesterday sent officials to Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan to check the condition of disgraced former president Chen Shui-bian, whose one-month medical parole was due to expire on February 4.
The ailing Chen, sentenced to 20 years in jail for corruption, was released on January 5 on medical parole to recuperate at his Kaohsiung home.
A medical team monitoring his health condition yesterday told prison officials Chen was still in poor health and needs medical care at home. But the prison authorities said they needed to review the overall condition of Chen’s health before deciding whether to extend his medical parole for one to three months.
A final decision would be made before February 4, they said.
Chen has spent more than six years in jail after being convicted of corruption during his time as the island’s leader between 2000 and 2008.
His health has been deteriorating for several years. Since then, he and his family have repeatedly requested his release on medical parole so that he could receive better medical care at home.
Chen, 64, is reported to be suffering from depression, sleep apnea, cognitive deterioration and a heart condition.
