TAIPEI (TVBS News) — In a significant development, the Taipei District Court (台北地院) ruled on Sept. 5 for former Taiwan People's Party (民眾黨) Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) to be released on bail for NT$70 million, with restrictions on his travel and residence, and under electronic monitoring. Ko's legal team announced Ko's agreed to leave after his lawyer visited him in the Taipei Detention Center (台北看守所) on Monday (Sept. 8).
Ko's wife, Chen Pei-chi (陳佩琪), promptly raised NT$50 million for the bail but faced a shortfall of NT$20 million. Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨) Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) confirmed on Facebook that Ko agreed to the bail conditions and prepared to welcome him upon release. TPP Taichung councilor Chiang Ho-shu (江和樹) assured on Sept. 7 that the full NT$70 million was secured, expressing hope for Ko's release.
Chen disclosed that Ko's first priority after release would be to visit his mother in Hsinchu. Ko was detained for a year due to the Core Pacific City Scandal (京華城案), which also involved Core Pacific Group (威京集團) chairman Sheen Ching-jing Ying (沈慶京) and Kuomingtang (KMT, 國民黨) councilor Angela Ying (應曉薇) during Ko's governance of Taipei City. The KMT and TPP condemned Ko's detention as a political maneuver and retaliation from the ruling party, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨).
