Taipei: The Taipei District Court has once again approved bail for former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je and Taipei City Councilor Ying Hsiao-wei, maintaining their original bails of NT$70 million (US$2.32 million) and NT$30 million, respectively. This ruling follows a recent decision by the Taiwan High Court, which overturned a previous district court order that had granted bail under the conditions of electronic tracking and a ban on leaving Taiwan.
According to Focus Taiwan, the Taiwan High Court found the prosecutors' appeal justified, leading to the revocation of the earlier bail ruling and remanding the case back to the district court for reconsideration. The court's conditions included prohibiting Ko and Ying from contacting, harassing, threatening, or seeking information from other defendants or witnesses.
Ko, who had been held incommunicado since September 2024 until his release on NT$70 million bail on September 8, maintains his innocence, asserting that the corruption charges are politically motivated. Ying, indicted in connection with Ko's case, was released on NT$30 million bail on September 5.
The Taipei District Prosecutors Office opposed the bail orders on September 9, citing incomplete witness testimonies and alleging that Ko contacted witnesses Chen Chih-han and Chen You-cheng after his bail. Despite this, the district court noted that witnesses had testified under oath during the investigation, and their testimonies would be admissible in trial.
The court emphasized that the substantial bail amount would exert psychological pressure on Ko and Ying, deterring any potential interference with court proceedings. Prosecutors are expected to review the latest ruling to decide on a further appeal.
Ko, who founded the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) in 2019 and led it until January amid corruption accusations, is currently on trial along with Ying and other defendants in the "Core Pacific City case." The case involves allegations of bribery by Core Pacific Group Chairman Sheen Ching-jing for favorable treatment during Ko's mayoral tenure.
Ko faces a potential sentence of 28.5 years for allegedly accepting bribes of NT$17.1 million in a property development deal and embezzling political donations during his 2024 presidential campaign. The TPP, invoking the principle of presumption of innocence, has expressed its continued support for Ko, citing the importance of his constitutionally protected freedoms and the party's commitment to standing by him throughout the legal process.