021215   021224

Chen Shui-bian, a former president of Taiwan was sentenced to 
20 years for money laundering.  He received a medical parole because of undiagnosed ailing conditions. 

Imprisoned racketeers led a jail break at Kaohsiung Prison.
Gangsters of the Bamboo Union stole scissors from the work shop 
took two officers hostage in the infirmary and from the armory
6 rifles several hand guns and 200 bullets.
Media outlets broadcast their denunciations of prison conditions 
including unfair trials and unequal sentences.
The next morning each of the six Bamboo felons committed suicide.
Five prison staff had been injured slightly.

President Ma abhorred the security lapse and vowed a full review 
with remedies within a week.
Prison Warden Chen Shih-chih reported that 
he had volunteered for hostage exchange 
the Ministry of Justice said he lied and
demoted him with a demerit.