A former Taiwan presidential candidate, Ko Wen-je, was arrested on Saturday after being questioned about his alleged involvement in a property scandal that occurred during his tenure as mayor of Taipei.
Ko Wen-je, a former surgeon-turned-politician and leader of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), ran as a third-party presidential candidate in January’s election, securing approximately a quarter of the votes. Recently, he has been embroiled in a corruption scandal linked to a property development from his time as Taipei’s mayor from 2014 to 2022.
Ko was detained for questioning on Friday following a raid on his home. The interrogation lasted 19 hours, according to a TPP statement, which also revealed that prosecutors ordered Ko’s arrest at around 2 a.m. on Saturday to further restrict his personal freedom.
Ko’s lawyer requested a review of the legality of his arrest, but the Taipei District Court rejected the petition, as stated by TPP. The party expressed respect for the court’s ruling and support for Ko’s right to seek legal relief.
Ko has denied any wrongdoing and announced on Thursday that he would take a three-month personal leave from his leadership role within the TPP.
In January’s election, the TPP secured eight seats in Taiwan’s parliament, gaining significant influence as a kingmaker. Neither the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) nor the Kuomintang (KMT), Taiwan’s largest opposition group, achieved a clear majority.
Earlier this year, TPP and KMT passed controversial reforms aimed at expanding parliamentary powers to address corruption. These reforms, opposed by the DPP, are currently under review by Taiwan’s constitutional court.
