Yao, former president of the Examination Yuan, said after a visit to the Taipei detention center in Tucheng that Chen is writing up another appeal himself.

“He has finished writing 5,000 words and is continuing to write,” said Yao, who met with Chen at Tucheng.

At the earliest, Yao said, Chen will submit his written appeal to the Taiwan High Court before this week is out. It will be his fourth appeal. Taiwan High Court judge Teng Chen-chiu turned down his third request on Sept. 24 on the grounds that the former president is a flight risk.

“President Chen refuted the grounds as ridiculous,” Yao said. “It's political persecution pure and simple,” he added.

Teng is scheduled to subpoena Chen to court for the first pretrial hearing on Oct. 23.

The ex-president was convicted of corruption and sentenced to life in jail by the Taipei District Court on September 11. He has been in custody at Tucheng since Dec. 30 last year.