TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A legal expert on Thursday (Sept. 5) said that Former Taipei Mayor and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Chair Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) could face a year in detention.
Ko is being investigated for allegedly breaking the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例) over his involvement in the Core Pacific City development project. Ko was detained incommunicado by the Taipei District Court on Thursday in New Taipei's Tucheng Detention Center due to the seriousness of the charges and the risk of collusion or destruction of evidence.
On his Facebook page, attorney Lin Chih-chun (林智群) explained that although Ko’s detention can be appealed if the High Court rejects the appeal, he would be detained for two months. However, as long as the reasons for detention remain, it can be extended.
Lin said detentions typically last until an indictment or even until the first trial verdict, which could take at least a year. “So, until the end of next year, Uncle Ko might have to say goodbye to everyone temporarily.”
Lin also hinted that TPP caucus leader Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) could emerge as the new party head by including the hashtag “#Huang Kuo-chang may be the biggest winner.”
In another post uploaded an hour later, Lin added that during the first hearing, prosecutors did not emphasize the profiteering charge and instead focused on the bribery charge. As a result, they could only present unexplained funds of just over NT$1 million (US$31,345), which is far less than the NT$20 billion involved in the Core Pacific City deal.
Lin said the bribery charge failed to convince the judge. Lin argued the profiteering charge on its own is a serious felony punishable by more than five years in prison.
He said in his opinion there was no need to add other charges, especially when the financial flows could not be proven. Lin said persisting with the bribery charge made it difficult to gain the judge’s approval.
During the second hearing, Lin noted that prosecutors switched emphasis to the profiteering charge, and in the end, the judge detained Ko based on the profiteering charge.
Lin concluded that during a hearing “you can't be too greedy." He added, "Play the strong cards first, and hold off on the uncertain ones until enough evidence has been gathered to fight again another day.”
