The Taipei District Prosecutor’s Office and the Anti-Corruption Agency are investigating the Jinghua City corruption case. On the 30th, former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je and others were summoned for alleged corruption and profiteering. Ko Wen-je was arrested for refusing a nighttime interrogation and attempting to leave, but his request for trial was rejected. Prosecutors held another investigation session this afternoon and applied for detention and isolation at the Taipei District Court.
Taiwan People’s Party Chairman and 2024 presidential candidate Ko Wen-je has been embroiled in a series of political scandals. In addition to the Jinghua City case and Ko Wen-je’s political funding case, the Taipei District Prosecutor’s Office has been investigating other cases including a land rights case in Beitou Shilin Technology Park, the redevelopment of the First Fruit and Vegetable Market and the Fish Market, and the Nan-gang Transfer Station BOT project. Ko Wen-je has accumulated involvement in five controversial cases during his eight years in Taipei city government.
During Ko Wen-je’s tenure as mayor, the floor area ratio of Jinghua City in Taipei increased from 392% to 840%, raising suspicions of favoritism towards developers. The Taipei District Prosecutor’s Office conducted searches at Ko Wen-je’s residence, his Taiwan Glass office, the Taiwan People’s Party headquarters, and former Taipei Deputy Mayor Pang Chin-sheng’s residence in Kaohsiung on the 30th. Ko Wen-je and Pang Chin-sheng were questioned as suspects, while Ko Wen-je’s wife Chen Pei-chi and Pang Chin-sheng’s wife were questioned as witnesses.
Chen Pei-chi was brought in for questioning on the evening of the 30th and was allowed to leave after the interrogation. Pang Chin-sheng and his wife were brought in for questioning on the evening of the 30th and his wife was allowed to leave early in the morning. Ko Wen-je was taken in for questioning early in the morning of the 31st. He was arrested for refusing a nighttime interrogation and attempting to leave. His request for trial was rejected by the Taipei District Court and he was sent back to the prosecutor’s office.
The Taipei District Prosecutor’s Office held another investigation session at 3:10 pm today and requested detention and isolation at the court after questioning by prosecutors. When Ko Wen-je’s vehicle arrived at the prosecutor’s office today, supporters gathered outside chanting slogans in support, while protesters expressed dissatisfaction with Ko Wen-je.
In a press release today, the prosecutor’s office stated that after questioning Ko Wen-je and Pang Chin-sheng, it was determined that they had allegedly violated the Anti-Graft Act by accepting bribes and profiting while in public office. The crimes have been deemed serious, with reasons to believe there is a risk of evidence tampering, collusion or witness tampering. Therefore, the prosecutor’s office requested detention and isolation for Ko Wen-je and Pang Chin-sheng.
Previously, the Taipei City Council’s “Jinghua City Floor Area Ratio Violation Case Special Task Force” held its ninth meeting on the 26th, inviting Pang Chin-sheng to explain. According to attending city councilors, Pang Chin-sheng confirmed that he set up the special task force upon instruction from former Mayor Ko Wen-je. He refrained from signing some key documents due to discrepancies in the application of the Urban Renewal Act, as directed by Ko Wen-je.
The investigation into the Jinghua City case by the Anti-Corruption Agency revealed bribery elements. On the 27th, Taipei City Councilor Ying Hsiao-wei was arrested, followed by the summoning of Wei Ching-ching, chair of the Wei Jing Group, and Wei’s assistant Wu Shun-min on the 28th. The prosecutor’s office requested detention and isolation for Wei Ching-ching, Ying Hsiao-wei, and Wu Shun-min, and the court ruled for their detention.
Ko Wen-je held a press conference on the 29th, announcing a three-month leave of absence to proactively address the month-long controversy over presidential election political donations. He expressed regret over the fundraising scandal in the 2024 election, which has greatly affected him and the Taiwan People’s Party, disappointing supporters. Ko Wen-je bowed to apologize to his supporters on the spot.
During the 2020 Taiwan presidential, vice presidential, and legislative elections, Ko Wen-je received 3.69 million votes in the presidential election, with a vote share of 26.46%. The Taiwan People’s Party secured 8 seats in the Legislative Yuan, becoming Taiwan’s third-largest party. The Taiwan People’s Party legislative caucus leader Huang Kuo-chang emphasized today that the party will not be defeated, and they believe in Ko Wen-je and support his fight for innocence.