Aljazeera reports that Ko Wen-je was indicted by Taiwan on Thursday following an investigation into alleged corruption in the redevelopment of a shopping centre in Taipei during his time as mayor of the Taiwanese capital and campaign finance irregularities during his 2024 presidential run.
A former presidential candidate in Taiwan, Ko Wen-je, has been arraigned for bribery and embezzlement of political donations.
Aljazeera reports that Ko Wen-je was indicted by Taiwan on Thursday following an investigation into alleged corruption in the redevelopment of a shopping centre in Taipei during his time as mayor of the Taiwanese capital and campaign finance irregularities during his 2024 presidential run.
The Taipei District Prosecutors Office said in a statement that it was seeking a term of 28 and a half years in jail for Ko, who is accused of taking T$17.1 million ($522,392) in bribery and embezzling gifts worth more than T$68 million ($2.08 million).
Prosecutors also charged numerous members of Ko's Taiwan People's Party (TPP) with misusing political money.
Ko, Taipei's mayor from 2014 to 2022, had denied culpability in a real estate development case after being arrested in August, however, he did admit to misreporting campaign funds.
The Taipei District Prosecutors Office said in a statement that it was seeking a term of 28 and a half years in jail for Ko, who is accused of taking T$17.1 million ($522,392) in bribery and embezzling gifts worth more than T$68 million.
Prosecutors also announced charges against several members of Ko’s Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) over the misuse of political donations.
The court later ruled that Ko should be released from custody as prosecutors had not met the standard of there being a “high possibility” he committed a crime.