The medical parole granted to former president Chen Shui-bian may be revoked if he attends a dinner in his honor. There have been reports that Chen plans to attend a dinner hosted by the Ketagalan Foundation on June 4. Taichung Prison said it has not received an application from Chen to attend, and his eligibility for medical parole could be lost if the event does not meet the parole restrictions.
Chen is on the board of the Ketagalan Foundation which celebrates its 11th anniversary on June 4.
Spokesperson for Chen’s medical team Janice Chen said on Tuesday that the former president would attend to thank his supporters. She said he declined an invitation to attend Tsai Ing-wen’s inauguration banquet because he did not want to be a distraction. Janice Chen said this is not an issue in this event as the former president set up the foundation and the banquet is in his honor. She said his attendance would be beneficial for his condition. Last year the Agency of Corrections had approved his application to attend the banquet but later the justice ministry did not. She said this year Chen will not apply and will simply attend.
Chen said, “This year we won’t apply. We believe this is a right for those on medical parole. In the past, people could even leave the country but the president has been under house arrest. He insists that he will go to express his gratitude to everyone.”
She said Chen would be accompanied by his doctor, caregiver and former bodyguards and that he would take the high-speed rail from his home in Kaohsiung to Taipei to attend the banquet.
Minister of Justice Chiu Tai-san said those on medical parole have to stick to clear parameters, which are medical-related activities. If Chen does not apply to appear at the banquet, it would be against the initial limits and parameters of his medical parole. The Taichung Prison would process his case accordingly.