TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Peggy Chen (陳佩琪), the wife of Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨) Chairman Ko Wen-je's (柯文哲), visited the First Bank on Monday (Dec. 30) but remained silent on whether they could secure the NT$70 million bail for Ko by 5 p.m. or if the court's decision was unreasonable.
Prosecutors indicted Ko last week on charges related to the Core Pacific City (京華城) scandal and political donation embezzlement. The High Court (高院) overturned his initial NT$30 million bail, requiring an additional NT$40 million, an electronic ankle monitor, and an eight-month travel ban. The TPP is urgently raising funds to meet these conditions.
TPP Legislator Lin Kuo-cheng (林國成) criticized the prosecutors for their harshness, revealing Ko was emotional about his father's critical condition. He also disclosed that the party's legislator Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) lent Ko his entire savings of NT$30 million. The party decided to see how much cash Chen and the Ko family could withdraw, with legislators, including Lin, tasked with raising NT$5 million each to cover the shortfall.
In related developments, the High Court also increased bail for others involved in the case, including Sheen Ching-jing (沈慶京), chairman of Core Pacific Group, and Taipei City Councilor Angela Ying (應曉薇). Ying's lawyer appeared at the prosecutor's office earlier, while Shen's lawyer collected payment slips from the District Court to pay NT$60 million at Taiwan Bank.
