Taipei’s new mayor-elect – independent Ko Wen-je – has again called for medical parole for former President Chen Shui-bian. Chen is currently serving a 20-year prison term on corruption charges.
Ko said on Monday that he has not been in touch with Chen since the elections, but that he will find time to visit the former president. Ko said there has been no change in his opinion that Chen should be released and that he should receive medical treatment at home. Ko said it would be bad for Taiwan if Chen were to die in prison.
The former president has been diagnosed with various complications, including severe depression, sleep apnea, atypical Parkinson’s disease, a speech disorder and mild cerebral atrophy.
During the debates leading up to the mayoral elections, Ko said that in medical terms, Chen is a patient, and disabled. Ko said it’s a political issue that requires political wisdom in order to resolve.