TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taipei District Prosecutors Office on Tuesday filed a second appeal against the bail decision for the defendants in the Core Pacific City case.

The defendants include TPP Chair Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), 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), per Liberty Times.

The prosecution argued that high bail amounts and electronic monitoring can reduce risks but do not prevent the defendants from communicating with witnesses and co-defendants or fleeing. They added that Sheen and Ying had shown signs of fleeing early in the investigation.

The Taipei District Court initially granted Ko a NT$30 million (US$915,000) bail, which was increased to NT$70 million on Sunday. On Monday, Ko posted the increased bail and was released. 

In other news, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office said Tuesday that Hsu Chih-yu (許芷瑜), Ko’s former secretary, is charged with violating the Anti-Corruption Act for accepting NT$15 million in the Core Pacific City case, per CNA.

According to their statement, Ko handed the money to Hsu for safekeeping and instructed her to go to Japan at 4:10 am on Aug. 29. Prosecutors said a warrant was issued for Hsu on Oct. 25, and they requested her passport be revoked.