Former presidential adviser Koo Kwang-ming (辜寬敏) helped foot the NT$2 million (US$62,505) bail yesterday for former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) release on medical parole.
Chen’s son, Chen Chih-chung (陳致中), has expressed his gratitude to Koo for the financial support.
Saying his effort was insignificant compared with the unbroken support of people who had pleaded for Chen Shui-bian’s release, Koo, in tears, yesterday spoke of the former president’s health and credited the supporters who have stood by the former president over the past six years as the real heroes.
Photo: CNA
Koo added that the government should have released Chen Shui-bian earlier to maintain social cohesion.
The former president began serving his sentence on Nov. 11, 2010, but had been detained for nearly two years before that time while prosecutors were investigating and prosecuting the cases against him.
His health has rapidly declined over the past few years and he has developed problems such as loss of motor control and incontinence.
Earlier yesterday, Chen Shui-bian was granted bail by the Taichung District Prosecutors’ Office on a NT$2 million surety.
Koo said he had been in contact with Chen Chih-chung, who told him earlier yesterday morning that his father had been granted medical parole and that the remaining issue was the question of collecting enough money to pay for the bail.
Koo said he told Chen Chih-chung: “Don’t worry about the bail. I’ll take care of it.”
At the time the exact amount of the bail had not been set, Koo said, adding that he had sent his staff to Greater Taichung to help arrange the former president’s release, whatever the amount might be.
Koo said over the past six years he had only paid Chen Shui-bian one visit at the beginning of his imprisonment, yet he had nonetheless fretted about the former president’s deteriorating health.
“I could not bear the sight of a democratically elected president behind bars, so I visited him only once, despite my genuine concern,” Koo said.
Asked what he would like to say to Chen Shui-bian, Koo replied: “Anything political should be avoided at the moment, as his return to his family is the most important thing.”
Back in Chen Shui-bian’s hometown in Greater Tainan’s Guantian District (官田), the former president’s mother, Chen Lee Shen (陳李慎), was exhilarated to see her son was no longer behind bars.
Chen Shui-bian’s brother, Chen Wen-shou (陳文狩), distributed candies to visiting supporters to share the family’s joy, while Chen Lee prepared some dumplings for the neighbors.
Sijhuan Borough Warden Chen Shui-jung (陳水榮) said the locals planned to stage a celebration welcoming the former president when he returns to his hometown to pay tribute to his ancestors and the goddess Matsu at Huian Temple (惠安宮).
Additional reporting by Yang Chin-cheng
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