TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Prosecutors on Thursday filed an appeal against the 17-year prison sentence handed to former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) in a series of bribery and embezzlement cases.
Before the March 26 verdict, prosecutors had requested that the court sentence the former presidential candidate to 28 years and six months in prison. The Taipei District Court verdict had been too light, prosecutors said, the Liberty Times reported.
Thursday was the final day to file an appeal against the ruling. Prosecutors said the court had failed to take all related details into account.
For example, prosecutors said Ko had accepted NT$17.1 million (US$535,000) from Core Pacific Chair Sheen Ching-jing (沈慶京) to approve the expansion of the floor area ratio at the Core Pacific City project, instead of the NT$15 million mentioned by the court.
The Taipei District Prosecutors Office also disagreed with sentences for other defendants in the case and with verdicts related to Ko’s use of political campaign donations.
The Taiwan High Court will handle the appeal against the Taipei District Court rulings. Ko maintained his innocence, saying there was no evidence of corruption or bribery.
