Judicial authorities are still yet to make a decision on whether former president Chen Shui-bian will be permitted to attend a dinner in his honor.
Chen is on medical parole from his 20-year sentence for acts of bribery during his time as president from 2000 to 2008.
The dinner is to be held by the Ketagalan Foundation on Saturday. On Thursday, Chiu Hung-chi of the Agency Corrections said no final decision had been reached.
"At present Taichung Prison has held a meeting and done some preliminary work but this is not a final decision," Chiu said. "When a decision is reached, the prison will make a press release. There is not a final decision yet."
Chen’s son, Chen Chih-chung, objected to the justice ministry’s deliberations on his Facebook page. Chen said the Ketagalan Foundation wished to hold a dinner to thank his father, a co-founder of the charity. He said the former president’s attendance would not constitute political activity, as the justice ministry appeared to believe.
Chen Shui-bian is prohibited by the terms of his parole from engaging in political activity.