[JURIST] Former Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian was granted a one-month medical parole Monday by Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice [official website] for treatment of neurodegeneration. Chen, 64, is currently in the fourth year of his 20-year sentence for corruption. While in prison Chen has been suffering from [AP report] depression, sleep apnea, heart ailments and neural degeneration. Chen has been receiving treatment [press releases] for his ongoing health issues, but Taiwanese officials have determined that his condition for neurodegeneration requires outside treatment. The Ministry of Justice stated, “[i]t is believed that only on medical parole can his life and health be ensured.” Chen’s form of neurdegeneration has not been reported or specified by the Ministry of Justice.

The Taiwanese government has faced massive struggles against corruption in recent years and in 2011 launched [JURIST report] the Agency Against Corruption to try to weed out corrupt officials and practices and to deter corruption in the future. That announcement came just one month after the indictment [JURIST report] of former Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui on charges of embezzlement and money laundering. Also in October 2011Chen was given [JURIST report] additional prison time related to fraud and bribery charges. In November 2010 Taiwanese authorities indicted 13 people on charges of bribery, corruption and money laundering, including [JURIST report] three High Court judges. The indictments came after authorities raided [JURIST report] the homes of several High Court officials suspected of accepting bribes to reduce sentences.