Ex-Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian attempts suicide with a towel

[Extremist]

TAIPEI — Taiwan’s imprisoned former President Chen Shui-bian tried to kill himself but was stopped by guards, the Justice Ministry said today (June 3).

A ministry statement said Chen used a towel to try to kill himself last night in a bathroom at Taichung prison in central Taiwan. It did not elaborate on how the towel was employed.

Without commenting on any injuries Chen may have suffered, the statement said he was in stable condition today at the prison, which is part of a hospital compound.

The 62-year-old is serving a 20-year sentence for corruption offences committed during his 2000-2008 presidential tenure.

The statement quoted Chen as saying that he tried to take his own life to protest his corruption conviction, part of which was based on his use of a special presidential fund to carry out secret Taiwanese diplomacy.

The ministry said that in comments last night after the failed suicide attempt, Chen emphasised that using the fund did not constitute corruption.

Chen has been receiving special medical treatment in recent months because of a series of health problems, including a heart ailment.

His office has been pressing for his release on medical parole, citing his poor health and his depressed state of mind.

Last week Chen announced he was applying for readmission to the Democratic Progressive Party, the main opposition grouping, which he led during his presidency.

He left the party of his own volition after leaving the presidency in 2008.

The party has not formally responded to Chen’s application, but current party leaders have made it clear they fear that his readmission could harm their attempts to cleanse the party of the aura of corruption. AP

 

[Rogue Trader]

ah bian was just attempting auto erotic asphyxiation with his towel

 

[GOD IS MY DOG]

aiyoh...................what a poor attempt at wayang................

if really wanna die..................try eating the towel lah......................

 

[lianbeng]

lianbeng suspects he must have read about Toad Shane and tried to copy him lor! but mission failed! sigh~ what a waste!

 

[Microsoft]

Think dis isn't de 1st time he attempted suicide...moi was impressed how he can be "stopped" ebery time...how moi wish dis happen to ebery1 who attempted suicide...haizz...

 

[ray_of_hope]

He should have read up on how scientist and inventor Shane Todd learnt how to tie a knot from surfing the Net.

 

[KuanTi01]

Think dis isn't de 1st time he attempted suicide...moi was impressed how he can be "stopped" ebery time...how moi wish dis happen to ebery1 who attempted suicide...haizz...

This is some Presidential acting stuff! Remember how he was unsuccessfully "assassinated" during his election campaign. If he had really intended to kill himself, I'm sure he would have succeeded.

 

[Microsoft]

This is some Presidential acting stuff! Remember how he was unsuccessfully "assassinated" during his election campaign. If he had really intended to kill himself, I'm sure he would have succeeded.

Yahman...he deserve dis...

 

[Narong Wongwan]

When I read this I hope one day the report would be about sinkieland's corrupt politicians in jail attempting suicide.

 

[Troll]

Poor towel was actually an unwilling participant in the suicide pact. Wonder how is the towel doing now?

 

[jw5]

LOL. If he fails, he will later claim that there was a conspiracy to kill him.

Now where are those chaps who claimed Ah Bian is their favourite person or favourite Hakka?

 

[Twilight]

LOL. If he fails, he will later claim that there was a conspiracy to kill him.

Now where are those chaps who claimed Ah Bian is their favourite person or favourite Hakka?

.............................................

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."

 

[jw5]

DPP Legislator Chiu Yi-ying (not to be mistaken for KMT famous mouth Chiu Yi) is as chiobu as chiobu politicians come.

But the last time I saw her on tv was a few years ago. She looks to have aged in the pic. Didn't know she knew karate or taekwando.

 

[syed putra]

This guy shouldn't be in prison to begin with. he wanted independence for Taiwan but too bad the next guy who became president was PRC friendly. So this guy just had to be punished.

 

[Char_Azn]

This guy shouldn't be in prison to begin with. he wanted independence for Taiwan but too bad the next guy who became president was PRC friendly. So this guy just had to be punished.

He also kept Taiwan's economy stagnant for 10 yrs. Young Taiwanese now need to come to countries like SG to look for decent paid jobs.

 

[shctaw]

Mustarbate half way got caught.

Then pretend to hang himself.

 

[Sideswipe]

He also kept Taiwan's economy stagnant for 10 yrs. Young Taiwanese now need to come to countries like SG to look for decent paid jobs.

this is the price of the sovereignty of the Republic of China Taiwan. no bowing down to the People Republic of China. Ah Bian is a true Taiwan Nationalist...

 

[wayanggedek]

If I'm Ah Bian surely I'll want to die too, makan so much money and cannot spend any.

 

[Sideswipe]

i learn a lot from Ah Bian. people should be thick skinned and shameless and shouldn't care what others say about you in order to survive... Ah Bian is a survivor !

 

[Rogue Trader]

i learn a lot from Ah Bian. people should be thick skinned and shameless and shouldn't care what others say about you in order to survive... Ah Bian is a survivor !

yeah kenna shot but the bullet could not penetrate his thick skin ... machiam superman