TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), chairman of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨), has secured another NT$40 million for bail following a court ruling linked to the Core Pacific City (京華城) scandal and political donations case. His wife, Peggy Chen (陳佩琪), withdrew a fixed deposit to cover the amount, with the Ko family bearing the full burden, while party funds remain as a backup, according to a related report.
The Taipei District Court set Ko's total bail at NT$70 million, requiring him to wear an electronic ankle monitor and imposing an eight-month travel restriction. The court deducted a previous NT$30 million bail, leaving NT$40 million that was due earlier that day. Ko mentioned borrowing the initial amount from the party's legislator Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌), as his family's bankbook was confiscated.
Ko had planned to repay Huang earlier today by withdrawing funds. However, the court's decision to increase the bail amount led him to consider mortgaging farmland and property in Hsinchu. The TPP mobilized quickly to assist, with legislators like Lin Kuo-cheng (林國成) contributing NT$5 million each to cover the shortfall.
Another TPP legislator, Wu Chun-cheng (吳春城), noted that party members eagerly offered support late into the night a day earlier, coordinating efforts under the guidance of TPP Secretary-General Chou Yu-hsiu (周榆修). Although the court questioned using borrowed funds for bail, Chen resolved the issue by liquidating the deposit, ensuring the entire sum came from the Ko family.
