TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Taipei District Prosecutor's Office (台北地檢署) plans to indict Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), chairman of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨), along with 10 other defendants on Thursday (Dec. 26) over allegations of corruption during his tenure as Taipei mayor. It will also transfer five detained suspects for trial, seeking a minimum 10-year sentence for Ko under bribery charges.
Taipei City Councilor Chung Hsiao-ping (鍾小平) reported Ko in May for allegedly benefiting Core Pacific Group Chairman Sheen Ching-jing (沈慶京) by increasing the floor area ratio for the redevelopment of Core Pacific City (京華城). Prosecutors launched an investigation, directing the Agency Against Corruption (廉政署) to gather evidence and conduct multiple searches.
Over several months, prosecutors detained Ko, Shen, former Taipei Deputy Mayor Peng Chen-sheng (彭振聲), Ko's former chief of staff Lee Wen-tsung (李文宗), Taipei City Councilor Angela Ying (應曉薇), former Dingyue Development Corp. President Chu Yea-hu (朱亞虎), and Ying's assistant Wu Shun-min (吳順民). Wu and Chu confessed during the investigation, securing bail at NT$5 million and NT$2 million, respectively.
Tomorrow's anticipated indictment will cover alleged offenses related to Core Pacific City and political donations, invoking laws against bribery, profiteering, embezzlement, breach of trust, and money laundering. The case highlights the ongoing battle against corruption in Taiwan's political landscape, with significant implications for Ko's political career and the TPP.
