Ko Wen-je released on NT$70 million bail

Taipei, Sept. 8 (CNA) Former Taiwan People's Party Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) was released by the Taipei District Court after posting NT$70 million (US$2.29 million) bail Monday, bringing an end to his year-long incommunicado detention as he faces trial for corruption.

Under the terms of release granted last Friday, Ko must stay at a registered address, wear a device equipped with a GPS tracking system, and not leave the country.

He is also barred from contacting other defendants or witnesses in the trial.

Ko was detained on Sept. 5, 2024 and indicted in December on four charges, including accepting NT$17.1 million in bribes for a property redevelopment case while serving as Taipei mayor, and embezzling political donations during his 2024 presidential campaign.

Prosecutors are seeking a total sentence of 28.5 years for Ko, who has maintained his innocence and argued that the charges are politically motivated.

Ten other suspects were also indicted in the two anti-corruption probes, including former Taipei Deputy Mayor Pong Cheng-sheng (彭振聲); Taipei City Councilor Ying Hsiao-wei (應曉薇); Lee Wen-tsung (李文宗), finance chief of Ko's 2024 election campaign office; and Sheen Ching-jing (沈慶京), founder and chairman of the real estate conglomerate Core Pacific Group.

Speaking on a live feed from outside the Taipei Detention Center late Sunday, Ko's wife Chen Pei-chi (陳佩琪) thanked Ko's supporters for continuing to stand by him.

After his release, Ko wants to first travel to Hsinchu to see his mother and decide where to inter his father's ashes, Chen said, citing a message passed along to her by his lawyers.