TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chair Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) posted an increased bail of NT$70 million (US$2.13 million) on Monday, up from the original amount of NT$30 million.
Ko’s wife, Chen Pei-chi (陳佩琪), delivered the additional NT$40 million in cash to the court before the 5 p.m. deadline. She was accompanied by several TPP officials as Ko left the courthouse later that afternoon, according to CNA.
As part of the bail conditions, Ko is required to wear an electronic monitoring device on his ankle.
The former Taipei mayor, along with 10 other suspects, was indicted on Thursday on corruption charges related to the Core Pacific City case. Ko faces a potential 28.5-year prison sentence for alleged offenses including bribery, embezzlement, and breach of trust.
Initially, the court granted Ko NT$30 million bail, allowing his release from incommunicado detention during the investigation. However, prosecutors filed an appeal on Friday, leading the Taiwan High Court to revoke the lower court’s decision. On Sunday, the Taipei District Court rejected prosecutors’ calls to revoke Ko’s bail but increased the bail amount more than twofold.
On Monday, three additional defendants—Core Pacific Group Chair Sheen Ching-jing (沈慶京), Ko’s 2024 election finance chief Lee Wen-tsung (李文宗), and Taipei City Councilor Ying Hsiao-wei (應曉薇)—were also released after posting increased bail amounts of NT$100 million, NT$20 million, and NT$30 million, respectively.
Prosecutors argued the initial bail order lacked adequate measures to prevent Ko from communicating with witnesses and co-defendants or fleeing. However, the judge ruled that detention was unnecessary as long as the defendants refrained from contact, adding that broad application of the prosecution’s reasoning would require all officials in similar cases to be detained.
