TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Former President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) commented on Taiwan People's Party Chairman Ko Wen-je's (柯文哲) release from the Taipei District Court (台北地院) on Monday (Sept. 2) recalling his own experiences in a 2008 money laundering case, noting that he was also released without bail twice and remarked that the case against Ko "is still developing."
The Taipei District Court released Ko without bail on Monday in connection with the Core Pacific City (京華城) floor area ratio case. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office (台北地檢) plans to appeal the decision.
Before authorities detained Ko, Core Pacific Group Chairman Sheen Ching-jing (沈慶京), Taipei City Councilor Ying Hsiao-wei (應曉薇), and Ying's assistant Wu Shun-min (吳順民) were detained and prohibited from meeting visitors. Additionally, early Monday morning, former Taipei Deputy Mayor Pong Cheng-sheng (彭振聲) was detained and sent to the Taipei Detention Center (土城看守所).
Chen Shui-bian recounted that on Nov. 11, 2008, the Special Investigation Division (特偵組) summoned him five times. After six hours of questioning, prosecutors sought his detention for corruption and money laundering charges. Although initially released without bail on Dec. 13, 2008, after an appeal by the prosecutors, the Taiwan High Court (高院) ordered his detention on Dec. 30, 2008.
The Taipei District Prosecutors Office's appeal against Ko's release may shape the next steps in the Core Pacific City case. The public will closely watch how this high-profile case unfolds.