Crisis of Trust: Taiwan’s Ko Wen-je Detained Again Amid Corruption Allegations Linked to Property Development Profits

Taiwanese Political Leader Ko Wen-je and His Party Confront Trust Issues Following Detainment

Ko Wen-je, previously in the running for president, has been arrested amid an investigation into corruption linked to a real estate project during his tenure as Mayor of Taipei.

Authorities have interrogated him regarding his suspected involvement in a real estate project while he served as mayor of the city from 2014 to 2022.

On Monday, the Taipei District Court decided to release him due to a lack of adequate evidence to justify further detention. However, on Thursday, his detention was reinstated after the High Court reversed the previous ruling. This decision was based on statements from other defendants indicating that Ko had played an active role in the matter.

The situation pertains to supposed benefits and payments from businessmen and political figures, which, according to prosecutors, assisted the real estate developer—who has also been taken into custody—in earning over NT$20 billion (US$623.6 million) in profits.