TAIPEI: Taiwan’s former president Chen Shui-bian has tried to commit suicide in the prison where he is serving a 20-year sentence for corruption, the justice ministry said yesterday.
Chen said the attempt was in protest at being excluded from an amnesty that last week saw charges dropped against hundreds of local politicians and academics accused of misusing government funds, the ministry said in a statement.
Chen attempted to hang himself with a towel in a bathroom at the jail in the central city of Taichung on Sunday night, but was prevented by a guard.
The ministry said medical personnel were immediately called to check his condition and no abnormalities were found.
Chen was transferred to a prison hospital in Taichung in April from a public hospital in Taipei.
Former president Chen had spent several months being treated for depression and other health problems.
During the 2000 presidential election, he proved a master at rallying popular support and securing the youth and blue-collar vote.
AFP
