Chen Shui-bian attempts suicide over hospital relocation
Staff Reporter 2013-04-21 08:56
DPP Legislator Chiu Yi-ying kicks in the minister of justice's door to protest Chen's unannounced relocation. (File photo/Liu Tsung-lung)
Taiwan's jailed former president Chen Shui-bian is understood to have attempted suicide on Thursday evening after learning that he was to be relocated from Taipei's Veterans General Hospital to Taichung Prison's Pei Teh Hospital at dawn the next day.
Chiang Chih-ming, an aide to the former president, said Chen tried to commit suicide by hanging himself from the ceiling in his toilet at around 10pm on April 18. "Nurses managed to save him in time when they heard the noise of Chen's body striking the garbage can when he was alone in the toilet," Chiang said.
Chen was duly transferred to the hospital prison in Taichung at around 5 am the following morning.
"[Chen] has the thought of committing suicide every now and then," said Chou Yuan-hua, one of his physicians. Currently serving an 18-and-a-half-year sentence for corruption during his time in office between 2000 and 2008, Chen is also on trial for hiding and retaining confidential papers among other charges, and his health and mental condition are believed to have deteriorated rapidly due to his confinement. He has repeatedly missed court hearings due to health issues.
Ko Wen-cher, who is head of National Taiwan University Hospital's Trauma Medical Department and also one of Chen's physicians, said the Ministry of Justice, which made the decision to relocate Chen, did not alert any of his medical team or family members about the move. "I would call it rough and rude to relocate a person like this," Ko said.
In response to the incident, 16 lawmakers from the opposition Democratic Progressive Party interrupted a press conference at the justice ministry at 11:30 am on Friday, demanding a meeting with minister Tseng Yung-fu. A furious legislator named Chiu Yi-ying kicked and destroyed part of the door to Tseng's office while attempting to gain entry.
The lawmakers shouted their anger about the ministry's decision to relocate the former president without telling related personnel. "Are you doing something bad that you don't want anybody to know?" Chiu demanded of Tseng. "Why are you trying to avoid us? It is hard to believe that there is no politics involved."
