Former leader denied medical parole

TAIPEI, Taiwan, March 21 (UPI) -- Former Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian doesn't need a medical parole to have his health problems treated, judicial officials in Taiwan said Wednesday.

The officials told Taiwan's Central News Agency that the ex-president can be treated at Taipei Prison where he is currently serving a 17-and-a-half-year sentence for corruption during his two terms in office.

Prisoners in Taiwan are entitled to apply for medical parole for outside treatments if their conditions cannot be properly dealt with inside the prison.

Besides heart problems, Chen has been diagnosed with abnormal levels of blood fat.

Deputy Justice Minister Chen Ming-tang said it has also been decided that the former president cannot be transferred to another prison with a special medical facility because he still has cases being tried by the high court.