Taipei: The Taiwan High Court ruled Monday that former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je will switch from an electronic ankle monitor to an electronic bracelet beginning Aug. 5. The court stated that although there is little evidence suggesting Ko is a flight risk, continued electronic monitoring remains necessary. The ruling is subject to appeal.
According to Focus Taiwan, Ko, the founder of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), had recently requested the court to remove or modify the monitoring requirements, arguing that his political responsibilities, as well as personal commitments, ensured he would not flee Taiwan. He emphasized his need to travel frequently for political activities, which often triggered the ankle monitor's alarms. Ko also mentioned the burdensome nature of regularly reporting his location and maintaining constant communication with the monitoring center and the court.
Ko highlighted that he has already posted NT$70 million (US$2.16 million) in bail and is subject to travel and departure restrictions, which he contends are sufficient measures to prevent any flight risk. The High Court reviewed monitoring records and found 3,803 level-three alerts between September 15, 2025, and June 16, 2026. However, only 53 of these alerts took place near coastal areas, with the majority resulting from technical malfunctions.
The court determined that the monitoring records did not suggest any attempt by Ko to flee. It concluded that an electronic bracelet offers similar monitoring capabilities to the ankle monitor while reducing physical burden. The change is expected to alleviate false alarms, decrease police workload, and improve the efficiency of police operations.
Ko, a former surgeon, served as Taipei mayor from 2014 to 2022, founded the TPP during his second term, and ran for president in 2024. He became a suspect in a corruption investigation involving the city's Core Pacific City redevelopment project and was indicted in September. On March 26, 2026, Ko was sentenced to 17 years in prison for corruption charges, a verdict that has been appealed. The TPP and some Kuomintang members have criticized the ruling as politically motivated, while the Democratic Progressive Party has not commented, citing judicial independence.