TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taipei District Court on Friday set bail for former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) at NT$70 million (US$2.28 million) and for Taipei City Councilor Ying Hsiao-wei (應曉薇) at NT$30 million.

The TPP founder and KMT politician are the only key individuals in the Core Pacific City scandal still detained. Ko has been detained since August 2024, with his current term behind bars scheduled to end on Oct. 1.

Prosecutors want a prison sentence of 28 years and six months for Ko. He stands accused of accepting bribes from the developer of the Core Pacific City project to allow the expansion of the floor area ratio. 

Ying was accused of serving as a go-between and of accepting money from the developer to pressure Taipei City officials into approving the expansion.

After their release, Ko and Ying will be subject to GPS tracking and barred from moving house, traveling overseas, and sailing out to sea, the Liberty Times reported. An eight-month ban will apply on contacts with other defendants and witnesses in the case.

A court session Thursday discussed the bail request from the two detainees, but concluded that there was no urgency to reach a decision, ordering them back to the detention center.