TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Supporters of Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨) Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) gathered outside the Taipei District Prosecutors Office (北檢) on Thursday (Dec. 26) afternoon, expressing their backing with yellow flags bearing slogans like "Today's Ko Wen-je, tomorrow's anyone" and "Believe in Ko Wen-je, innocent and clean." Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌), the party's legislative caucus leader, noted that if a significant number of supporters and concerned citizens gather, it is only natural for party officials to join in supporting their chairman.
Prosecutors have indicted Ko on charges of accepting bribes, profiteering, misappropriating public funds, and breach of trust, seeking a sentence of 28 years and six months in prison, along with a 10-year deprivation of civil rights. These charges stem from allegations involving the floor area ratio of the Core Pacific City project and false declarations of political donations by the TPP.
In response, the TPP held an international press conference on Thursday afternoon titled "Political Persecution, Judicial Injustice, Democratic Regression." Huang criticized the prosecutors for detaining Ko for four months without presenting substantial evidence, accusing them of falsely alleging illegal bribery. He emphasized that expressing support and concern outside the prosecutors' office is a constitutional right, which the party appreciates and supports.
