Former Taipei Mayor and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je has been indicted on multiple corruption charges, including bribery and misappropriation of political donations, in connection to several scandals during his time as mayor, Bloomberg reports.
The Taipei District Prosecutors Office is seeking a sentence exceeding 28 years and a fine of NT$50 million ($1.5 million).
The charges stem in part from a property redevelopment project where Ko is accused of improperly granting Core Pacific Group additional floor area. The company’s chairman, Sheen Ching-jing, is also facing prosecution and a potential 17-year prison sentence. Both Ko and Sheen have denied any wrongdoing.
According to prosecutors, Ko was deeply involved in the project’s decision-making. Ko has argued that he did not participate in the specific approval of the additional floor area.
Ko co-founded the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) in 2019, and the party swiftly denounced the indictment.
The TPP holds a joint majority in the legislature with the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang (KMT), and together they have been pushing through legal changes that critics say are aimed at undermining President Lai Ching-te’s administration. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has accused the opposition of politically motivated attacks.
Ko’s indictment is the latest in a string of corruption charges against politicians in Taiwan. Last August, former vice premier Cheng Wen-tsan of Lai’s ruling DPP was also charged with alleged graft.
Ko finished third in the recent 2024 presidential election, garnering approximately 27% of the vote. He recently resigned from his leadership position within the TPP this month.
