In a stunning turn of events, Ko Wen-je, the former leader of Taiwan’s opposition party, was arrested following nearly 19 hours of intense interrogation related to a property development scandal that unfolded during his time as mayor of Taipei.
Late on Friday night, Ko was taken into custody over concerns of potential collusion after he refused to continue the overnight questioning, as reported by the Central News Agency citing the Taipei District Prosecutor’s Office. The decision to arrest Ko was made within the 24-hour window of interrogation, as per Taiwan laws. Despite Ko's request for a judicial review of the arrest, the Taipei District Court declined.
The Taiwan People’s Party, which Ko co-founded in 2019, issued a statement expressing respect for the court's decision while affirming its support for Ko's right to a fair legal defense.
A former trauma surgeon, Ko garnered considerable popularity as a third-party candidate in the recent Taiwan presidential election, securing nearly 27% of the vote. He trailed behind President Lai Ching-te and the Kuomintang's Hou Yu-ih.
Ko's arrest is the latest development in a string of investigations into Taiwanese politicians for corruption and misconduct since President Lai took office in May. In a separate incident in July, former DPP vice premier Cheng Wen-tsan was detained on corruption charges.
Amid a wave of scandals entangled with the Taiwan People’s Party's expenditures, Ko announced his temporary resignation as chairman of the party on Thursday. The controversies included issues concerning election subsidies and political donations.
The arrest of Ko Wen-je marks a significant moment in Taiwan's political landscape, underscoring ongoing efforts to combat corruption and uphold accountability within the government.