TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei District Court on Monday extended the detention of former TPP Chair Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), citing concerns that he could collude with witnesses in an ongoing corruption investigation.

The court granted the prosecution’s request to keep Ko and co-defendant Ying Hsiao-wei (應曉薇), a KMT Taipei City councilor, in custody, per UP Media. Meanwhile, co-defendants Core Pacific Chair Sheen Ching-jing (沈慶京) and Lee Wen-tsung (李文宗) were granted bail, but remained in custody as of Monday, per UDN.

Sheen’s bail was set at NT$180 million (US$6 million), while Lee’s was set at NT$20 million. They must post bail by Aug. 1 to be released.

The court cited unresolved witness testimony as a key reason for extending Ko and Ying’s detention, saying the risk of collusion between defendants and witnesses could not be ruled out.

Prosecutors alleged that Ko has used his political clout as former TPP chair and ex-Taipei mayor to exert pressure on both witnesses and the judiciary. They claimed Ko employed Facebook and other online platforms to influence witness statements and potentially mislead the public.

A particular point of concern was the TPP's use of generative AI to create a video of Ko defending himself, which prosecutors argued could mislead viewers and manipulate public perception.

Prosecutors may also be referring to Hu Fang-chiung (胡方瓊), a former Taipei Urban Planning Commission specialist, who recently reversed her previous testimony from July 2024. Hu claimed that all actions related to the Core Pacific City project were legal during her last court appearance.

The TPP condemned the court’s ruling, suggesting the extension of Ko’s detention is politically motivated, per Newtalk. Ko’s wife, Peggy Chen (陳佩琪), expressed surprise at the prosecution's claims that her husband was pressuring the judiciary, per ETtoday.