A former mayor of Taipei, Ko Wen-je, who heads a small opposition party, has been charged with accepting bribes worth T$17.1 million ($522,392) in connection with a major property development project and misusing political donations to the tune of tens of millions of Taiwan dollars. Prosecutors are seeking over 28 years in prison for Ko, who is currently detained.
Ko was mayor from 2014 to 2022 and came third in January’s presidential election. He has previously denied wrongdoing in the property case, but investigators found evidence of approvals given for a shopping centre project when he was in office.
The charges against Ko also include embezzling over T$68 million in political donations, which were misreported during his presidential campaign. However, Ko’s party claims that it did not embezzle any funds and that they used them according to Taiwanese laws.
The scandal has dealt a significant blow to Ko’s chances of running for president again in 2028. Opinion polls show that the public’s support for him and his party has plummeted due to the bribery allegations.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/former-taipei-mayor-charged-bribery-misuse-political-donations-2024-12-26