Taiwan’s Jinghua City case and political donation case have seen new developments. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office (North District Prosecutors Office) successfully appealed twice, and after a court hearing on January 2nd at the Taipei District Court (North Court), former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, Chairman of Wei Ching Group Shen Qing-jing, Kuomintang Taipei City Councilor Ying Hsiao-wei, and Chairman of the Zhongwang Foundation Lee Wen-tsung were once again detained and held incommunicado. The four individuals were transported to the detention center in the early hours of January 3rd.
According to reports from Liberty Times and Central News Agency, Ko Wen-je and the other three individuals were each taken in separate vehicles to the detention center. Ko Wen-je, Shen Qing-jing, and Lee Wen-tsung were transported in a medium-sized bus to the Taipei Detention Center, while Ying Hsiao-wei was taken directly to the Taipei Female Detention Center in a van. They departed at 12:48 a.m.
The Taipei Detention Center stated that Ko Wen-je arrived at the facility around 1:08 a.m. on the 3rd, underwent security checks as per the detention regulations, and was assigned to different multi-person dormitories along with other defendants related to the case.
The detention center maintained that they would continue to monitor the physical and mental health of the detainees and provide necessary counseling and medical resources.
The Taipei District Prosecutors Office investigated the Jinghua City case and political donation case, and on December 26, 2024, filed charges of corruption against former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je and 11 others. The case was transferred to the Taipei District Court.
The Taipei District Court ruled that Ko Wen-je must pay a bail of NT$30 million, Shen Qing-jing NT$40 million, Ying Hsiao-wei NT$15 million, former Deputy Mayor of Taipei Peng Chen-sheng NT$5 million, and former Director of Taipei Mayor’s Office Lee Wen-tsung NT$8 million (NT$2 million during the investigation).
The court also stipulated that Ko Wen-je and others are restricted from leaving Taiwan, going to sea, or changing their residence, except for essential daily life and work activities, and they are not allowed to have any contact with other defendants or witnesses in the case.
The North District Prosecutors Office appealed the bail rulings of Ko Wen-je, Ying Hsiao-wei, Shen Qing-jing, Lee Wen-tsung, and others. The Taiwan High Court revoked the original ruling and sent it back to the Taipei District Court. Following two hearings at the North Court, Ko Wen-je was ordered to pay NT$70 million for bail, Shen Qing-jing NT$100 million, Ying Hsiao-wei NT$30 million, and Lee Wen-tsung NT$20 million, all under electronic monitoring.
The North District Prosecutors Office disagreed again with the bail ruling for Ko Wen-je and others by the Taipei District Court, and filed a further appeal. Yesterday, the Taiwan High Court revoked the original ruling and sent it back to the Taipei District Court for further review.
On the evening of January 2nd, the North Court held a third detention hearing and ruled at 10:40 p.m. that Ko Wen-je and the other three defendants should be detained and held incommunicado. The four individuals were transported to the detention center in the early hours of January 3rd.