On Thursday, prosecutors in Taiwan announced that Ko Wen-je, a former presidential candidate and founder of the Taiwan People’s Party, is accused of corruption. He is said to have taken bribes while he was the mayor of Taipei. The charges involve a real estate project where he allegedly let a company break building rules in exchange for money. Ko is also accused of stealing political donations. If found guilty, he could face 28.5 years in prison.
The case focuses on Core Pacific City, a development in Taipei. The lead prosecutor, Kao Yi-shu, said, “Ko promised not to take bribes as a mayor but chose to help a company gain illegal profits while collecting millions in bribes.”
Ko, who is a trained doctor, has denied these accusations and says the charges are a form of political attack. A member of his party, Lin Fu-nan, called this a misuse of power and warned against political influence on the justice system.
Ko gained popularity by winning the 2014 mayoral election and served until 2022. In 2019, he started the Taiwan People’s Party to offer a new choice beyond the two major political parties in Taiwan. Even though he ran for president this year and finished third, he caught the attention of many young voters.
Taiwan’s Politics Overview: The major political parties in Taiwan include the Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) and the Democratic Progressive Party. Ko’s smaller party, the Taiwan People’s Party, has worked with the Kuomintang in the legislature, recently helping pass laws that critics fear will weaken the Constitutional Court
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