Taipei City Councilor Ying Hsiao-wei released on NT$30 million bail

Taipei, Sept. 5 (CNA) Kuomintang Taipei City Councilor Ying Hsiao-wei (應曉薇) was released by the Taipei District Court on Friday night after posting NT$30 million (US$972,920) bail.

She must stay at a registered address, wear a GPS tracking ankle monitor and not leave the country, per the conditions of her release.

Ying and former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) were both indicted in the Core Pacific City case, and the court said they are also barred from contacting other defendants or witnesses while on bail.

● Ko's bail granted after key witnesses cross-examined: Taipei court

Although Ko was granted NT$70 million bail earlier in the day, he has yet to decide whether to post bail, saying he needs more time to "think it over," according a joint statement from his lawyers Cheng Shen-yuan (鄭深元), Lu Cheng-yi (陸正義) and Hsiao Yi-hung (蕭奕弘).

Ko and Ying were among 11 individuals indicted in December 2024 over a corruption case in which Core Pacific Group Chairman Sheen Ching-jing (沈慶京) is alleged to have bribed Ko for favorable treatment during the latter's tenure as mayor.

The investigation into the Core Pacific City redevelopment project started amid suspicion about the sharp increase in the floor area ratio -- the total floor space of a building divided by the size of the land it sits on -- from 560 percent to 840 percent.

Ko was charged on four counts, including allegedly receiving a NT$15 million bribe from Sheen -- who was granted bail and released in July -- for which prosecutors are seeking a total prison term of 28 years and six months.

Meanwhile, Ying was indicted for allegedly receiving NT$52.5 million in three installments from Sheen to facilitate an increase in the floor-area ratio for the project, for which prosecutors are seeking a 16-year prison term and NT$50 million in fines.

Ying and Ko have been held in incommunicado detention since being indicted on Dec. 26 last year, after being initially arrested and detained in early September.