TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Taiwan High Court on Wednesday (July 10) overturned a bail decision for former Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦) for the second time in a week, sending the case back to the Taoyuan District Court amid corruption allegations against the senior politician.

Cheng, who resigned as chair of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) after the accusations came to light, was initially granted bail for a sum set at NT$5 million (US$154,000). After prosecutors lodged an appeal, the High Court revoked the bail decision and sent the case back, but the Taoyuan District Court raised the bail sum to NT$12 million.

However, the prosecutors once again objected to the decision, lodging another appeal. The High Court decided Wednesday in the prosecutors’ favor, requiring the district-level court to discuss the case again, per Radio Taiwan International.

The investigators wanted to detain Cheng to prevent him from contacting other suspects. The corruption allegations were related to a land development project in Taoyuan City, when Cheng was mayor between 2014 and 2022. He has maintained his innocence.