NEW TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨) Chairman Ko Wen-je's (柯文哲) wife, Chen Pei-chi (陳佩琪) visited the Taipei Detention Center on Friday (Sept. 6) where her husband has been held incommunicado since Thursday.
Despite not being able to see him, Chen remarked that she feels closer than ever to him. "I feel that my heart is closer to him just by being here," Chen said.
The Taipei District Court ruled that Ko be detained over the alleged Core Pacific City corruption case following an appeal from district prosecutors on Wednesday.
Due to Ko's detainment, Chen could only drop off items, including two books, one of which is "Taiwan's 400-Year History" (台灣人400年史) by Su Beng (史明), a revolutionary figure in Taiwan's independence movement.
Chen remains sure of Ko's innocence, promising to stand by him while he's detained. "He said he had no power to accept bribes for profit because he had left professional issues to the Urban Planning Commission. The commission recorded and minuted dozens of meetings," she added.
Due to recent events, TPP spokesperson Lin Tzu-yu (林子宇) revealed that Ko's previous plans to visit the United States on Sept. 21 remain pending, though other party members will still move forward.
According to the "Code of Criminal Procedure" (刑事訴訟法), Ko can be lawfully detained for up to four months while prosecutors investigate.
The TPP has also vowed to support its chairman and announced a party-wide mobilization and nationwide lecture campaign. The first stop will be at 6:30 p.m. this Sunday, in front of the Chun Hsien Building (群賢樓) on Jinan Road (濟南路) in Taipei City, where the first speech will take place.
