TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Prosecutors indicted TPP Chair Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) Thursday for allegedly making nearly NT$100 million (US$3 million) in illegal proceeds in two corruption cases.
The Taipei District Prosecutors Office, investigating the Core Pacific City and political donation cases, announced Ko was indicted on charges including bribery, profiteering, embezzlement, and breach of trust under the Anti-Corruption Act. Prosecutors are seeking a combined sentence of 28 years and 6 months on the four charges.
Prosecutors said Ko violated his oath as mayor to abide by national laws and refrain from accepting bribes. He is accused of attempting to provide illegal benefits worth tens of billions to corporations, taking millions in bribes, and embezzling tens of millions in political donations.
During the investigation, shredded notes were discovered at Ko's office, which included instructions for accomplices to leave the country and details on whether internal accounts of the Muko Public Relations Company had been audited.
Prosecutors said this demonstrated Ko’s attempts to evade responsibility and cover up the truth. They also noted his uncooperative attitude, leading to the specific sentencing recommendations.
Ko was implicated in the illegal land use incentives for Core Pacific City, violating the Anti-Corruption Act by accepting bribes while in office and providing unlawful benefits in his supervisory role. The bribes amounted to NT$17.1 million.
In the political donation case, Ko was charged with breach of trust and embezzlement of public funds under the Criminal Code. Prosecutors alleged he embezzled NT$6 million in political donations.
Ko, together with former campaign chair Lee Wen-tsung (李文宗) and Muko Public Relations Company head Lee Wen-chuan (李文娟), were also jointly charged with embezzling NT$62.34 million.
Ko and Lee Wen-tsung embezzled NT$8.27 million from a foundation, violating the Criminal Code's breach of trust provisions. The total illicit gains of Ko and his accomplices exceeded NT$93.71 million.
Prosecutors are seeking 15 years of imprisonment, a NT$50 million fine, and a 10-year suspension of citizen's rights. They seek five years of imprisonment for his embezzlement of political donations intended for the TPP
For Ko's use of the Muko Public Relations Company to embezzle political donations, they recommend six years of imprisonment. For the former mayor's breach of trust involving a charitable foundation, prosecutors seek two years and six months of imprisonment.
