A Taiwanese court has convicted former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je on multiple corruption-related charges, sentencing him to 17 years in prison. The court found that Ko accepted bribes totaling NT$2.1 million (approximately $65,000) in March 2020, disguised as political donations during his tenure as mayor. Additionally, he was found guilty of misappropriating NT$6 million in political donations to the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), which he founded in 2019.
Ko served as Taipei’s mayor from 2014 to 2022 and ran as the TPP’s presidential candidate in 2024, securing 25% of the vote. The court emphasized that public officials are expected to uphold transparency and accountability, stating that Ko knowingly violated Taiwan’s Anti-Corruption Act and related legislation by providing unlawful benefits related to urban development decisions. Alongside the prison sentence, the court ordered the confiscation of assets and the deprivation of certain civil rights.
In response, Ko and his legal team criticized the verdict as “absurd” and a violation of fair judicial principles, arguing that the proceedings lacked fundamental safeguards such as the presumption of innocence. TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang denounced the judgment as politically motivated and called for supporters to mobilize. Ko has vowed to appeal the decision upon receiving the written judgment.
Ko’s conviction follows a series of legal challenges. In August 2024, he was detained during an investigation into a property development project from his time as mayor and was indicted on bribery and other corruption charges in December 2024. He was released on bail in September 2025 after posting NT$70 million (US$2.32 million). His detention sparked claims of political persecution and protests in Taipei.
Ko’s legal troubles have had broader implications for Taiwan’s political landscape. The TPP, established as an alternative to the dominant Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Kuomintang (KMT), now faces internal challenges and public scrutiny. The case has also ignited debates about judicial impartiality and the influence of political dynamics on legal proceedings in Taiwan.
As the appeal process unfolds, the outcome will likely have significant ramifications for Ko’s political career and the future of the TPP. The case underscores the ongoing challenges Taiwan faces in maintaining judicial independence and public trust in its political institutions.