The former President of Taiwan, Chen Shui-bian, attempted to kill himself on Sunday night in a bathroom in Taichung prison with a towel. He was stopped in time by prison guards.
Chen Shui-bian is currently serving a twenty year sentence for corruption he committed during his eight year tenure as President from 2000 to 2008.
The Taiwanese Justice Ministry released a statement which said the former President attempted to take his own life in order to protest his corruption conviction. However, he still maintains his innocence. The statement went on to say that Shui-bian is in stable condition in the prison hospital.
The office of the former President has been pressing for his early parole on medical grounds to poor health and depression.
Chen Shui-bian was a member of the Democratic Progressive Party, which has come under fire in the last several years for corruption.