Taiwan says former president Chen Shui-bian attempted suicide with towel

Taiwan’s imprisoned former president Chen Shui-bian tried to kill himself but was stopped by guards, the Justice Ministry said on Monday.

A ministry statement said Chen used a towel to try to kill himself on Sunday night in a bathroom at Taichung prison in central Taiwan. It did not elaborate on how the towel was employed.

Without commenting on any injuries Chen may have suffered, the statement said he was in stable condition on Monday at the prison, which is part of a hospital compound.

The 62-year-old is serving a 20-year sentence for corruption offences committed during his 2000-2008 presidential tenure.

The statement quoted Chen as saying that he tried to take his own life to protest his corruption conviction, part of which was based on his use of a special presidential fund to carry out secret Taiwanese diplomacy.

The ministry said that in comments on Sunday night after the failed suicide attempt, Chen emphasised that using the fund did not constitute corruption.