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Disgraced former Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian has just been freed from prison after been granted one month's medical parole.
He had spent more than six years in jail after being convicted of corruption during his time as the island’s leader between 2000 and 2008.
Chen sat in a wheelchair as his son, Chen Chih-chung, pushed him out of the gates of Taichung Prison at 3.30pm. 

Wearing a cap, the feeble-looking but smiling former president waved to more than 300 supporters outside, who chanted “A-Bian Innocent”, and “A-Bian, go, go, go”.
He used a crutch as he stood up from the wheelchair and slowly walked to a black saloon car waiting beside the entrance.
Once inside, Chen rolled down the car window and waved again to supporters and journalists waiting along the road.

It took his car at least 20 minutes to make the short journey of no more than 50 metres before it reached the highway that leads to his home in southern city of Kaohsiung.
More than 200 police officers had been on duty in the area outside the prison as a precaution.
Authorities will check on his condition next month to decide whether he must return to prison to continue his sentence in future.
The one-month medical parole was granted by the Agency of Corrections under the Justice Ministry.
A 10-member panel, led by Wu Hsien-chang, director of the agency, approved his request for release because of failing health after holding a lengthy review, starting at 9am.

Chen Chih-ching posted a photograph of his father on his Facebook page as they drove home from prison, with a caption saying that he was grateful to the Taiwanese people.
The photo showed Chen dressed in a green sweater - the colour of the DPP - and a hat with the slogan, "Bian's case is political persecution", printed on it.
A tearful Koo Kwang-ming, the DPP veteran who offered to help Chen pay bail of NT$2 million (about HK$487,000) told the Central News Agency that the authorities should have released Chen a long ago.
Koo also praised the "anonymous heroes" behind Chen's medical parole - ordinary Taiwanese people who constantly called for his release.
The Taichung district prosecutors' office told the United Daily News they had asked Chen to pay a slightly lower bail amount because of "humanitarian" concerns.
Last month Chen said that all his money had been confiscated during the corruption inquiry and he could not afford to pay bail for his medical parole.
Tsai Ing-wen, the DPP president and Chen's former colleague, wrote on her Facebook page that she was "relieved" to learn that Chen had released and could now have further medical treatment.
	This morning, Chen's mother also left her hometown in Tainan to head to Kaohsiung to visit her son.
Chen, who has been serving a 20-year prison sentence, was jailed in late 2008.
His health has been deteriorating for several years. Since then, he and his family have repeatedly requested his release on medical parole so that he could receive better medical care at home.
Supporters had hoped Chen would be released on December 31, when a civilian hospital team unanimously recommended that he be granted medical parole because they believed his health problems could not be properly treated in prison, according to local media reports.
“These fours days are as long as four years [to our family],” Chen's son, Chen Chih-chung, wrote on Facebook before his father's release, adding that family members had been taking it in turns to visit the jailed former president.
Chen, 64, is reported to be suffering from depression, sleep apnea, a deterioration in his mental functions and a heart complaint.
The hospital team sent its report to ministry on December 31, but the delivery was delayed in a traffic jam and arrived only a few minutes before the close of business.
Profile: rise and fall of former Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian
1950
	Born in an impoverished tenant farming family in Tainan County, southern Taiwan
1980
	Becomes well-known for his defence in court of participants in the 1979 Kaohsiung Incident – which saw opposition politicians taking part in a pro-democracy demonstration
1994
	Represents Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and is elected mayor of Taipei
1998
	Defeated by Kuomintang (KMT) Ma Ying-jeou  in Taipei mayoral election
2000
	Wins the presidential election after beating Lien Chan of the Kuomintang party and James Soong Chu-yu of the People First Party
2008
	Resigns his post as president of DPP after his party suffers clear defeat in a legislative election; later steps down after KMT candidate Ma Ying-jeou defeats DPP candidate Frank Hsieh to become new president
2008
	Chen is placed under restrictions over allegations of abuse of power and corruption; he is later placed in detention
2009
	Sentenced to life imprisonment and fined NT$200 million after being convicted of corruption by a Taipei court
2010
	Chen is sentenced to 20 years in prison and fined NT$170 million after an appeal
2013
	Taipei district court suspends Chen’s latest trial hearing because he is suffering from depression, dementia and other health problems
December 9, 2014
	Appeal for Chen to be formally released on medical parole is rejected by Taipei district court
December 31
	The Ministry of Justice’s Agency of Corrections – in charge of the island’s prisons – says a 10-member team will verify the report of Chen’s medical parole on January 5
January 5, 2015
	Chen is granted one month's medical parole


Disgraced former Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian freed from jail on one month's medical parole

Former Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian leaves Taichung Prison, pushed by his son, Chen Chih-chung. Photo: CNA

Former Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian drives away from jail today after being released on one month's medical parole. Photo: ETTV

Former Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian was jailed for corruption in late 2008. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Former Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian waves to supporters before driving away from Taichung Prison after his release on one month's medical parole. Photo: CNA

Supporters of Chen Shui-bian wait for the arrival of the former Taiwanese president outside his Kaohsiung home. Photo: United Daily News

Chen Shui-bian's son, Chen Chih-chung, posted this photograph of his father on his Facebook page as they drove home from prison. Photo: CNA


Traffic jam delays jailed ex-Taiwan president's medical parole until next month

Former Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian, pictured in 2011, has been serving a 20-year jail term for corruption since November 2010. Photo: AFP

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China

Disgraced former Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian was released from jail at 3.30pm today after being granted a month's medical parole after spending more than six years in prison.
 
