TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taipei District Court ruled on Thursday that former Taipei Mayor and TPP Chair Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), along with three co-defendants, be placed under detention with restrictions on visitation in a contentious case involving the Core Pacific City development and the management of political donations.
The decision came after a third detention hearing, following two appeals filed by the Taipei District Prosecutors Office. These appeals were in response to earlier rulings that granted bail to the four defendants, despite the high bail amounts. Ko's bail was set at NT$70 million, one of the highest ever in the history of political cases.
In court, Ko criticized the judges' previous order restricting his contact with co-defendants and witnesses, calling it overly vague. He argued that if the prosecutors intended to prevent collusion, they should specify who he was prohibited from contacting. He also challenged the prosecutors, saying, "If you want to lock me up, just say it," as quoted by Liberty Times.
Meanwhile, Ko downplayed concerns about the possibility of fleeing, pointing out that reporters followed him everywhere. He suggested that raising the bail amount would only force him to sell his apartment, according to CNA.
The prosecutors contended that increasing bail and using electronic ankle monitors would not be enough to prevent the defendants from colluding. They also claimed that Ko's secretary, Hsu Chih-yu (許芷瑜), nicknamed "Orange," (橘子) handled financial transactions on Ko's behalf and fled overseas, heightening concerns about potential witness tampering.
On Wednesday, the Taiwan High Court sent the bail decision back for reconsideration, citing concerns about tampering and incomplete reasoning. The High Court referenced seven pieces of evidence, suggesting that the defendants had already attempted to tamper with evidence.
Ko is at risk of receiving a prison sentence of up to 28.5 years for charges related to bribery, embezzlement, and breach of trust.