Taipei: Former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je and Taipei City Councilor Ying Hsiao-wei will remain in custody for an additional two months as their corruption case advances, following the Taiwan High Court's decision on Monday to reject their appeal against detention.
According to Focus Taiwan, the High Court affirmed a previous ruling by the Taipei District Court from July 21, which extended the detention of Ko and Ying, the last two defendants held incommunicado in the Core Pacific City redevelopment corruption case, until at least early October. The High Court's statement indicated that the judges found no merit in Ko and Ying's claims, which argued against their flight risk status and challenged the legal foundation of the lower court's decision.
Citing court documents and information from the detention center, the High Court supported the lower court's decision, referencing Article 101 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. This article states that if there is significant suspicion of a crime, and it becomes challenging to prosecute or try the case without a retention order, the accused should be detained.
The High Court also noted the potential flight risk, emphasizing the defendants' "personal status and financial capability" to escape. Ying was initially detained by prosecutors after attempting to travel to Hong Kong on August 27, 2024, and Ko was arrested on August 31 after not cooperating with investigators.
As the latest detention extension proceeds, both defendants will have been in custody for over a year. Members of Ko's Taiwan People's Party have claimed that Ko is being politically persecuted and that prosecutors have not substantiated the charges against him.
Ko and Ying are among 11 individuals indicted by the Taipei District Prosecutors Office for their involvement in a redevelopment project during Ko's tenure as mayor, where the developer allegedly received favorable conditions from the city government. Core Pacific Group Chairman Sheen Ching-jing, accused of bribing Ko and other officials, was released on bail after being granted it on July 21.
Prosecutors allege Ying facilitated communication between Sheen and city officials to secure a higher floor area ratio for constructing four 19-floor office buildings on the site of the demolished Core Pacific City shopping mall, increasing potential sales units for Sheen.
Initially, the Taipei District Court ruled for Ko's release, but prosecutors contested the decision, prompting the High Court to review the necessity of Ko's detention. Ko, who ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in January 2024, was transferred to the Taipei Detention Center, along with Sheen and Ying. The legal battle over their detention began on September 6, 2024.
The district court's decision to release several defendants, including Ko, following the December indictment was later reversed, leading to their detention on January 2, after the High Court twice rejected the release decision.