TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Taipei District Court (台北地方法院) plans to hold a third detention hearing on Thursday (Jan. 2) at 6 p.m., escalating the legal proceedings against former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) and others. Authorities have called Ko and four co-defendants to report to the court at 11 a.m. as part of the ongoing investigation into the Core Pacific City (京華城) scandal and political donations case.
Prosecutors indicted Ko and his co-defendants last Thursday, transferring the case to the court. Initially, the court set bail for Ko at NT$30 million, Core Pacific Group Chairman Sheen Ching-ching (沈慶京) at NT$40 million, Kuomintang Taipei City Councilor Angela Ying (應曉薇) at NT$15 million, former Taipei deputy mayor Pong Cheng-sheng (彭振聲) at NT$5 million, and former Taipei Mayor's Office Director Lee Wen-tsung (李文宗) at NT$8 million.
The court imposed travel and communication restrictions on the defendants, barring them from leaving the country or contacting witnesses. Prosecutors contested the initial bail decision, leading the High Court (高院) to overturn it and demand a reevaluation. The court then revised the bail amounts, increasing Ko's to NT$70 million and Shen's to NT$100 million, while implementing electronic monitoring.
Prosecutors have remained dissatisfied, prompting a further appeal. The High Court once again annulled the decision, returning the case to the district court for another review. The outcome of Thursday's hearing will determine the next steps in this high-profile legal battle.