Former presidential candidate and Taiwan People's Party founder Ko Wen-je has been indicted on corruption charges in Taiwan. The accusations stem from his time as mayor of Taipei, where he is alleged to have accepted bribes and embezzled political donations.
If found guilty on all charges, Ko could face up to 28.5 years in jail. Central to the case is a real estate development owned by Core Pacific City group in Taipei. Prosecutors claim that Ko allowed the company to skirt city building regulations in exchange for bribes.
The lead prosecutor, Kao Yi-shu, stated that Ko violated his duties as mayor by allegedly seeking illegal benefits for the development group while accepting millions in bribes.
Ko, a former doctor, rose to prominence in 2014 when he won the mayoral race in Taipei. He served two terms from 2014 to 2022 and later founded the Taiwan People's Party in 2019 as an alternative to the established two-party system.
Despite finishing third in the recent presidential election, Ko garnered attention for his appeal to young voters. Taiwan's political landscape is largely dominated by the Nationalist Party (Kuomingtang) and the Democratic Progressive Party, with Ko's TPP serving as a smaller player allied with the Kuomingtang in the legislature.
Recent legislative actions by the TPP have drawn criticism, with opponents arguing that the laws passed could hinder the Constitutional Court and limit President Lai Ching-te's ability to implement his political agenda.
