Taipei: The Taipei District Court on Monday began hearing oral arguments in high-profile cases against former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je who is accused of accepting bribes in a property development deal and misappropriating political donations. Prosecutors allege that Ko intervened in the Core Pacific City development project dispute during his mayoral tenure, despite warnings from city officials to resolve the matter legally.
According to Focus Taiwan, prosecutors stated that Core Pacific Group Chairman Sheen Ching-jing had persistently lobbied the Taipei City government between 2010 and 2018 with limited success. However, post-2020, Ko allegedly approved nearly all of Sheen’s requests, including modifications to the development project’s detailed plans and floor area ratio (FAR). Prosecutors claim Ko was aware of the significant financial stakes and coordinated with Sheen to secure unlawful benefits.
Ko, who briefly addressed reporters outside the court, dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, urging the courts to prioritize facts and evidence over conjecture. As the founder and former chair of the opposition Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), Ko was among 11 individuals indicted in December 2024 in a corruption case involving alleged bribery by Sheen for favorable treatment during Ko’s mayoral tenure.
The investigation into the project began amid suspicions regarding the sharp increase in the FAR – from 560 percent to 840 percent. Ko faces a potential sentence of 28.5 years for allegedly accepting bribes of NT$17.1 million in the property development deal and embezzling political donations during his 2024 presidential campaign as the TPP leader.
Monday’s proceedings focused on the prosecutors’ indictment of Ko, with Tuesday expected to see Ko and his lawyer present their defense. Ko continues to assert his innocence, maintaining that the charges are politically driven.