TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Authorities released former Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨) Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) on bail on Monday (Sept. 8) after the Taipei District Court (台北地方法院) set the amount at NT$70 million. The court imposed restrictions on his travel and residence and mandated electronic monitoring. Supporters gathered outside the Taipei District Prosecutors Office (台北地檢署) to welcome him.
Ko expressed frustration over the extensive investigations conducted over the past year. He stated that prosecutors searched his home, office, and the party's headquarters, even examining his bank safety deposit boxes for virtual currency. Ko criticized the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨), suggesting they did not anticipate the Taiwan People's Party's integrity.
In addressing the Core Pacific City scandal (京華城案), Ko pointed out that all civil servant testimonies confirmed the legality of the process, questioning the prosecutors' professionalism. He argued that a few prosecutors have damaged public trust, citing the 32-0 recall vote as evidence of their influence. Ko emphasized the psychological toll of solitary confinement, comparing it to military service, where inmates have more social interaction.
Ko lamented the isolation, noting that he spent a year and was confined to a small room. He described his release as the first time seeing daylight in a year, reflecting on what he termed as his unique treatment. The case continues to unfold, with Ko's statements shedding light on the challenges he faced during the investigation.
