20120322 Justice officials and KMT reject calls to let Chen go

Justice officials and KMT reject calls to let Chen go

INSUFFICIENT GROUNDS: The Deputy Minister of Justice said that early release for medical reasons was typically reserved for prisoners who are terminally ill with cancer

By Shih Hsiu-chuan / Staff Reporter

Ministry of Justice officials and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers yesterday rejected repeated appeals from supporters of jailed former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) that he be released from prison for medical reasons, saying such a move would be “unnecessary” and “inappropriate.”

At a press conference attended by KMT legislators and justice officials, several of the lawmakers urged the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to refrain from exerting any political influence on the case.

On Tuesday, DPP Legislator Gao Jyh-peng (高志鵬) called the issue urgent and repeatedly asked Premier Sean Chen during a question-and-answer session whether he supported granting the former president amnesty.

Chen Shui-bian, who is serving a 17-and-a-half-year sentence for corruption, was diagnosed as suffering from acute coronary syndrome and underwent a cardiac catheterization earlier this month during a one-week temporary release from prison for a hospital visit.

The former president’s physicians have assessed his situation and determined that his current medical treatment is sufficient to care for his long-term health, Deputy Minister of Justice Chen Ming-tang (陳明堂) said.

Chen Ming-tang said early parole releases on medical grounds were normally only granted to terminally ill patients who suffer from diseases such as cancer and need hospice care or need to be treated with debilitating procedures such as bone marrow transplants.

Chen Ming-tang also dismissed the possibility that the former president could be transferred to another prison in the south, as his family has requested, because Chen Shui-bian still had cases pending on the court docket and therefore does not meet the requirements of a prison transfer.

Chan Jer-feng (詹哲峰), deputy director-general of the Agency of Corrections, said Chen Shui-bian has been in stable condition since he was discharged from hospital and returned to Taipei Prison on March 13.

Chan said physicians feel Chen Shui-bian’s current medication has stabilized his condition and they would conduct regular check-ups to monitor his condition.

The KMT lawmakers strongly opposed treating the former president with any special treatment, saying that he should be treated no different than the 65,000 other inmates.

Since Chen Shui-bian has been convicted on corruption charges, he should forfeit any right to special privileges granted to former heads of state, KMT Legislator Lu Hsueh-chang (呂學樟) said.

KMT Legislator Hsu Yao-chang (徐耀昌) called on the DPP to refrain from trying to revise legislation to pave the way for Chen Shui-bian’s eventual release because he and former first lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) have already enjoyed a certain level of privileges.