TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) pleaded not guilty on Tuesday in the Core Pacific City corruption case, accusing prosecutors of piling accusations without evidence, per CNA.
Ko, along with Core Pacific Group Chair Sheen Ching-jing (沈慶京), Taipei City Councilor Ying Hsiao-wei (應曉薇), and 11 others, was indicted on charges of bribery and corruption linked to the project at the end of last year. Ko faces a combined sentence of 28 years and six months if convicted.
Earlier in the day, prosecutors resumed oral arguments at Taipei District Court alleging Ko profited from corruption and bribery associated with the project. They presented an entry from Ko's Excel files, which they allege was a NT$15 million (US$476,000) bribe from Core Pacific Group Chair Sheen Ching-jing (沈慶京), coinciding with an approved increase in the floor-area-ratio of the project..
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Ko said all administrative procedures were properly followed in the Core Pacific City case. He accused prosecutors of selectively ignoring testimony and fabricating claims based on seized mobile phones. “Justice should be blind and free of bias,” he said, arguing prosecutors were only seeing what they wanted to see.
Ko said that when the case first emerged, he believed it was unrelated to him because he did not know the project’s floor area ratio. While he knew the case had been submitted for review, he said he did not participate in the review process, had no contact with Urban Planning Committee members, and gave no guidance on the matter.
He said that during his tenure, he established a system for reviewing petitions and denied prosecutors’ claims that he intervened by attaching sticky notes, saying they were merely reminders. Ko added that he respects professional opinions, listens to urban planning experts, and does not pretend to know what he does not.
Ko said the indictment relied on three lunch meetings and three official documents. He described the meetings as routine and intended to improve efficiency by allowing departments to prepare responses to councilors’ petitions in advance. He denied instructing departments on how to draft reports and said the Core Pacific City case was handled without his monitoring or intervention.
Ko became emotional as he told the court he had been detained for a year and was unable to be at his father’s bedside before his death, calling it the hardest burden to bear despite colleagues and classmates providing care.
