The Taipei District Court announced yesterday that former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) trial on charges of corruption and seizing confidential government documents will be suspended due to concerns about his health.
Application granted
The district court said it has granted the application by Chen’s attorneys for his trial to be suspended.
According to Article 294 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (刑事訴訟法), the trial of a defendant who is unable to attend hearings due to illness should be suspended until the defendant is able to attend.
The district court said the decision could not be appealed by prosecutors.
The court cited a medical report as saying that Chen, who is serving a 20-year jail sentence for corruption, is suffering from a number of ailments, including severe depression and non-typical Parkinson’s disease.
Chen’s health might be put at risk if he spends time traveling and in court, it added.
Last week, Chen underwent an operation at the Taichung Veterans General Hospital to treat a severe case of sleep apnea.
A statement released by the former president’s office said breathing disruptions have resulted in a number of health issues including deprivation of oxygen to the brain.
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