TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei District Prosecutor's Office (TPC, 台北地檢署) detained Core Pacific Group (威京集團) Chairman Shen Ching-ching (沈慶京), Taipei City Councilor Angela Ying (應曉薇), and her assistant Wu Shun-min (吳順民) on Thursday (Aug. 29) amid allegations of bribery and evidence tampering. The Taipei District Court (台北地院) expects to hold a detention hearing this afternoon, pending a review of the case files.
The TPC requested their detention, citing risks of evidence destruction and flight, while Chen Yu-kun (陳玉坤), chairman of Core Pacific City, was released on NT$12 million bail earlier Thursday morning.
Prosecutors allege that Shen bribed Ying with nearly NT$10 million to illegally increase Core Pacific City's floor area ratio to 840%. They also suspect Ying planned to flee to Hong Kong from Taichung International Airport on Tuesday night. Authorities apprehended her and conducted searches at her office and residence early Wednesday.
Shen reportedly sought Ying's help in 2020 to ease restrictions on Core Pacific City, also known as the Living Mall (京華城), a former shopping center in Taipei. Ying initially approached former Taipei Deputy Mayor Peng Cheng-sheng (彭振聲), who refused, before turning to former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲).
Ko, now chairman of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨), had approved the floor area ratio increase from 392% to 840%, raising suspicions of favoritism. Further investigation revealed Shen's alleged bribery attempts from 2018 to 2021. Authorities are examining whether any funds reached Ko.
As the investigation continues, the public awaits further developments in this high-profile corruption case.
