Taiwan Politician Stabs Self to Prove Innocence

TAIPEI, Taiwan — A Taiwanese politician stabbed himself during a session of the National Assembly on Wednesday as he protested to fellow assembly members that he was not involved in a corruption scandal.

State television showed independent national assemblyman Liu Hui-hsiung, 30, using a knife to stab his left arm three times during a speech to proclaim his innocence.

Liu, a former member of the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party, was sentenced last week to 18 months in prison after he was convicted of taking kickbacks to use his influence in a legal case.

He was reportedly in stable condition Wednesday after being rushed to a hospital.