TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨) Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) was summoned on Wednesday (Nov. 13) as part of their ongoing investigation into the scandal-ridden Core Pacific City (京華城) redevelopment project. Ko, sporting a shaved head, arrived at the Taipei District Prosecutor's Office (北檢), surprising reporters who initially failed to recognize him.
Authorities are probing allegations that Core Pacific Group chairman Sheen Ching-jing (沈慶京) orchestrated a scheme to secure a building area increase of over 560% for the project. Investigators suspect former Dingyue Development Corp (鼎越開發) president Chu Yea-hu (朱亞虎) led senior executives from the company to deposit NT$2.1 million into a political donation account designated by Ko. This transaction allegedly served as a bribe in anticipation of Ko's help in the project.
Prosecutors believe Ko knowingly violated regulations by pushing for an increase in the building area to 840%. They claim he instructed former Taipei deputy mayor Pong Cheng-sheng (彭振聲) to convene multiple urban planning meetings to facilitate the expansion. Shen allegedly paid Ko NT$15 million as part of the bribery scheme.
Ko, detained for three months, remains unable to respond to any accusations, including sexual harassment allegations reported by Mirror Media (鏡週刊) a day earlier. The report claims Ko harassed former media personality Chu Mei-feng (璩美鳳), involving physical contact and subsequent messaging.