Former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) was released from hospital and returned to a detention center yesterday after doctors said Chen was in stable condition, although he still refused to eat.
Chen left the Taipei County Hospital in Banciao (板橋) by ambulance while dozens of supporters gathered and honked air horns as he was driven back to the Taipei Detention Center in Tucheng (土城), Taipei County.
Chen has refused to eat since he was incarcerated last Wednesday. He was rushed to the Far Eastern Memorial Hospital on Sunday for a check-up after he complained about soreness and discomfort in his chest. He was transferred to Taipei County Hospital on Monday for security reasons.
PHOTO: AFP
Yang Chang-bin (楊長彬), county hospital deputy director, yesterday said that Chen could get in and out of bed by himself, bloating had been reduced and the ketone reaction in his urine had improved. His blood pressure, heartbeat, blood sugar, body temperature and liver functions remained normal, Yang said.
Chen’s lawyer, Cheng Wen-long (鄭文龍), told reporters after visiting the former president that his client was still weak and felt cold most of the time. The former president also said he missed his four grandchildren very much, Cheng said.
Cheng said he would try to get some photographs of the former president’s four grandchildren and bring them to his client.
In related developments, Next Magazine yesterday said that prosecutors were looking into whether Chen and his former right-hand man Chiou I-jen (邱義仁) had pocketed US$25 million in diplomatic funds.
The magazine alleged that Chiou claimed US$5 million in cash from the foreign ministry to promote Taiwan’s WHO bid. Another US$20 million, which Chiou also received in cash, was supposed to be given to ally Panama’s leader Martin Torrijos as a “political donation” to prevent the country from switching diplomatic recognition to China, the magazine said.
The magazine cited an unnamed source as saying prosecutors suspected Chen could have deposited the cash in overseas bank accounts while he was on state visits abroad.
In response, Chen’s office issued a statement dismissing the allegations as “a malicious attempt to confuse public opinion” and to “smear the former government’s diplomatic efforts.”
Meanwhile, in related news, US State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack yesterday said they were confident in Taiwan’s democracy and its legal system.
“We have every expectation that the process will be transparent, fair and impartial,” he said.
McCormack made the remarks in response to a question about whether the US government has concerns about Taiwan’s legal system.
Meanwhile, Chiayi County Commissioner Chen Ming-wen (陳明文), who began a hunger strike on Nov. 11, has agreed to start eating after his wife, Liao Su-hui (廖素惠), visited yesterday and urged him to eat.
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