TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨) chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) broke his four-month silence on Facebook on Thursday (Dec. 26), condemning what he described as a politically motivated prosecution and a miscarriage of justice after prosecutors indicted him for a combined sentence of 28 years and 6 months.
Ko's post highlighted that after months of investigation, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office (北檢) concluded its inquiry on charges including bribery, embezzlement, and breach of trust related to the Core Pacific City case. He expressed disbelief that despite his four-month detention and cooperation, prosecutors failed to present solid evidence, suggesting the investigation amounted to political persecution rather than a fair legal process.
Ko questioned the lack of evidence, stating that the alleged NT$2.1 million bribe was merely a legitimate political donation. He criticized the indictment's reliance on circumstantial evidence, such as his attendance at a groundbreaking ceremony, to imply intent to benefit the Core Pacific City case. He further challenged the prosecutors' claims regarding the NT$16 million transactions, which allegedly included a NT$15 million bribe to him, pointing out the absence of details about the money's origin, transfer, and location.
Ko denounced the investigation's quality as crude and unacceptable, urging transparency in Taiwan's judiciary. He called on the public to demand an end to coercive interrogation practices, insisting that he should be released without evidence.
