TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Prosecutors seek a 28-year, six-month prison sentence for former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) as the Taipei District Court (台北地方法院) holds oral debates Monday (Dec. 22) on corruption charges. The court summoned Ko, Lee Wen-tsung (李文宗), and Lee Wen-chuan (李文娟) to testify in the Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨) political donations case involving public welfare occupation and breach of trust charges. Ko faces prosecution under the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例), Taiwan's anti-graft legislation.
The Taipei District Prosecutors Office (台北地檢署) filed charges late last year against Ko and Core Pacific Group (威京集團) chairman Sheen Ching-jing (沈慶京), along with 11 others. The court has conducted oral arguments since Dec. 15, with prosecutors presenting profiteering and bribery arguments through Dec. 16.
Presiding Judge Chang Chih-cheng (張志澄) announced Dec. 18 the conclusion of debates involving Wu Shun-min (吳順民), Pong Cheng-sheng (彭振聲), Huang Ching-mao (黃景茂), and Shao Hsiu-pei (邵琇珮). The court plans to deliver its verdict March 26, rescheduling Angela Ying's (應曉薇) and her defense counsel's arguments for Tuesday afternoon (Dec. 23).
The court will hear oral arguments regarding Tuanmu Cheng's (端木正) involvement in the corruption case Tuesday, with closing arguments scheduled for the afternoon. Arguments will continue throughout Wednesday, while defendants whose debates have concluded will not be required to appear in court. ◼