TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A court is allowing prosecutors to seize Core Pacific City assets in connection with an estimated NT$11.17 billion (US$347.87 million) in illegal profits, reports said Friday (Oct. 4).

The profits were generated by the approval of a 20% floor area bonus by then-Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), the Liberty Times reported. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office reportedly applied last week for permission to seize the land, with the court deciding in its favor.

The move will prevent Core Pacific Development Corporation from transferring or selling the land. The aim was also to make sure that the developer would be able to pay future fines.

The scandal led to the detention of Ko, his former Deputy Mayor Pong Cheng-sheng (彭振聲), Core Pacific Chair Sheen Ching-jing (沈慶京), Kuomintang (KMT) Taipei City Councillor Angela Ying (應曉薇), several aides and executives. Sheen allegedly paid Ying to exert pressure on Taipei City Government officials to approve the extension of the floor area ratio for the project.

Ko has defended his innocence, while supporters of his Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) have staged street protests, claiming the former mayor is being unfairly persecuted.