Former Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian tried to kill himself in a prison bathroom with a towel but was discovered by wardens in time, the island's Justice Ministry said on Monday, June 3, according to Reuters.

Chen, serving a 20-year term for corruption charges he claims were politically motivated because of his strong anti-China stance, attempted suicide at his jail in the central city of Taichung on Sunday night, the ministry said in a statement.

Chen tried taking his own life in protest against his conviction for corruption, it added, without providing details on how the towel was used. The jail had arranged for a psychologist to visit Chen, it said.