TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei District Court (台北地方法院) proceeded with more corruption hearings Tuesday (Oct. 28) in the Core Pacific Group (威京集團) case. The court again summoned former Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨) chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), former campaign finance manager Lee Wen-tsung (李文宗), and Core Pacific Group (威京集團) chairman Shen Ching-ching (沈慶京). Key witnesses included former Taipei urban development director Chang Ching-sen (張景森) and Neo Creative Marketing head Dai Li-ling (戴利玲).
Prosecutors indicted Ko, Shen, and nine others under the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例) for bribery and other offenses. The prosecution seeks 28 years and six months in prison for Ko over alleged embezzlement charges. Ko and Lee allegedly embezzled political donations from the "KP SHOW" fundraising concert, according to prosecutors.
Former urban development director Chang Ching-sen testified about his sensitivity to profiteering charges during decades in government. Chang stated he strictly follows existing laws and provides reasonable justifications when laws lack specificity.
Ko testified he feels neither troubled nor sad despite year-long detention while courts debate potential legal violations. Ko criticized the Control Yuan (監察院), Taiwan's government watchdog, for issuing corrective measures against Taipei City Government. He argued Control Yuan members lacked full case understanding and produced inconsistent investigation reports.
The indictment alleges Muke Technology (木可公司) and Neo Creative Marketing organized the KP SHOW fundraising concert last July. Proceeds were transferred to Muke Technology's account on Sept. 7, according to prosecutors. Former campaign director Huang Shan-shan (黃珊珊) testified KP SHOW was commercial, with revenue bypassing campaign headquarters. ◼ (At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$30.631)