TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Taipei District Court (台北地方法院) delivers its verdict Thursday (March 26) in the Core Pacific City (京華城) corruption case. The ruling targets Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), founder and former chairman of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 台灣民眾黨). Prosecutors seek up to 28 years and 6 months in prison, with Ko's political future at stake. Ko will address the public at 5 p.m. alongside party chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) at an international press conference.
Authorities have deployed 80 police officers and erected barricades outside the courthouse to maintain order as TPP supporters gathered there. Party figures call on backers to demonstrate support for the embattled politician. TPP Central Committee member and Taichung City Councilor Chiang Ho-shu (江和樹) mobilized supporters to gather outside the court at 1 p.m.
Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) legislator Niu Hsu-Ting (牛煦庭) said any potential change in the TPP's leadership will not alter the broader framework for cooperation between the two opposition parties. The KMT plans to clarify its stance following the TPP's press conference. The two parties have collaborated on legislative matters in Taiwan's parliament, the Legislative Yuan (立法院), since 2024.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) legislator Wang Shih-chien (王世堅) said Ko himself should know whether he was involved in the case. Wang emphasizes that judicial matters should remain separate from political affairs. The ruling party legislator added the verdict will influence the development of Taiwan's political landscape. The DPP currently holds the presidency under President Lai Ching-te (賴清德).