Ko Wen-je briefly leaves prison for medical treatment

Taipei, March 30 (CNA) Former Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), who is being detained as he is tried on corruption charges, was allowed to briefly leave prison late Saturday to be treated for a medical issue.

The Taipei Detention Center said Ko had reported "feeling unwell" at 6:40 p.m. Ko's health indicators were all normal, but due to his being a "high risk health case," he was taken for off-site medical treatment at 9:55 p.m.

Ko was returned to the prison at 11:57 p.m., after doctors determined his condition was "stable" and did not meet the threshold for remaining in the hospital, the prison said.

Over the last week, Ko has reportedly been suffering from kidney stones and developed symptoms including vomiting and bloody urine.

Despite attempts from his lawyers to get him released for medical treatment, the Taipei District Court on Friday extended his detention by another two months, citing a risk that he could flee, collude with others or destroy evidence.

The former TPP chairman has been detained since last September. He was indicted in December for bribery, embezzlement and breach of trust offenses dating back to his second term as Taipei mayor from 2018 to 2022 and during his run in the 2024 presidential race.

Ko, who denies the charges, made his first appearance at his trial on March 21.

At around 5 p.m. Saturday, TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) submitted a legal petition at the Taipei Detention Center in New Taipei's Tucheng District, requesting that Ko be sent for medical treatment at a hospital.

Huang, along with a number of TPP supporters, unfurled a white banner in front of the prison calling for Ko's release, and pledged to remain there until he received an answer to his request from prison authorities.

The Taipei Detention Center, which earlier Saturday said Ko did not meet the standard for requiring off-site medical care, appeared to relent after Ko reported feeling unwell that evening, leading to his two-hour departure from the prison for treatment that night.

As of midday Sunday, no new details regarding Ko's condition have been released.