TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Authorities on Friday (Sept. 13) summoned Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) for a second round of questioning in the Core Pacific City (京華城) corruption case.
Ko, wearing a yellow prison uniform, entered the Taipei District Prosecutor's Office (台北地檢署) under police escort. He remained silent, responding to media inquiries with only a glance.
Investigators focused on testimony from Lin Jou-min (林洲民), former head of the Taipei Urban Planning Commission, and cash found in a safe deposit box belonging to Ko's wife, Peggy Chen (陳佩琪).
On Sept. 11, prosecutors and the Agency Against Corruption (廉政署) searched several First Bank (第一銀行) branches. They reviewed records of safe deposit boxes rented by Chen and her relatives and opened two of Chen's safes. Inside, they found gold, jade, and NT$1 million in cash.
Chen explained that the gold items were wedding gifts from her parents, while the jade came from Ko’s mother. She stated that the cash was for emergencies and unrelated to the Core Pacific City case.
A day earlier, Lin testified that he warned Ko about legal risks if the project’s floor area ratio was increased.
Prosecutors have been investigating whether Ko accepted bribes linked to the redevelopment project since late August.
