Legislator Yen Ching-piao needs to stay at the hospital for at least a week, according to a statement from Taipei’s Veteran’s General Hospital (VGH).

Yen was admitted to the VGH Tuesday night with life threatening conditions, but he was in stable condition as of yesterday after treatment, the hospital said.

Yen reportedly felt ill after drinking at a farewell dinner with friends.

It is the second pre-imprisonment drama this month involving high-profile politicians.

Last week, tycoon Liu Tai-ying, who controlled the Kuomintang’s huge business empire in the 1990s, reported sick after drinking with friends on the eve of his imprisonment for corruption.

He spent two days in the hospital before a prosecutor talked him into agreeing to report to jail for a 22-month imprisonment.

But Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng said it was impossible that Yen faked the illness.

He urged prosecutors to get a thorough understanding of Yen’s case, and handle it in the best possible way.

KMT Legislator Chiu Yi, who had spent some months in jail last year for leading a violent street protest, also remarked Yen’s sickness was real.

Chiu said Yen felt sick after drinking, and was rushed to the VGH’s emergency room.

“It’s impossible that he is faking the illness, as alleged by some people,” said Chiu after visiting Yen at the hospital.

But Legislator Lawrence Gao from the Democratic Progressive Party said ironically that a law should be made to ban people from drinking on the eve of their imprisonment.

Prosecutors had yet to comment on Yen’s case.

The Supreme Court last month upheld a 42-month imprisonment a high court had meted out for Yen, who was convicted by illegal weapon possession. He was supposed to report to jail yesterday.

Yen is a controversial figure who is alleged to be a gang boss.

He is still on trial in a few other cases, including one where he is charged with corruption for allegedly using government money to wine and dine while serving as speaker of the Taichung County Council.

Dr. Chou Chia-yu, head of a VGH intensive care unit where Yen was staying, said the lawmaker spent two days at the hospital after being admitted for heart problems on July 17. But he was again admitted to the VGH at about 11:00 p.m. Tuesday with even worse heart conditions, the doctor said.

Chou said Yen will have to stay at the hospital for at least a week, and it will need further evaluation to see whether he can go to jail after the week.

Yen’s office said the lawmaker had been depressed and unable to sleep, and lost five to six kilograms since the Supreme Court returned a final verdict last month.

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