Corporate offices were searched today and a Taipei city councilor questioned as part of an investigation into potential corruption involving preferential treatment given to Core Pacific City Co (京華城) during the tenure of former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲).
China Petrochemical Development Corp’s (CPDC, 中石化) office, its affiliate Dingyue Development Corp’s (鼎越開發) office and Core Pacific Group chairman Shen Ching-ching’s (沈慶京) office and residence were searched by the Agency Against Corruption.
The operation was directed by the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office, as Core Pacific City is under investigation for allegedly profiting from an increased floor area ratio granted by the Taipei City Government during Ko’s tenure.
Photo: Tien Yu-hua, Taipei Times
Ko has been listed as a suspect in the case.
BES Engineering Corp (中華工程) and Taipei City Councilor Angela Ying (應曉薇) were also reportedly involved in the investigation.
CPDC said the company and its affiliate are operating normally and are financially secure, and that the investigation is not affecting its shareholders and business.
The company is fully cooperating with investigators, it said.
BES Engineering Corp also said it would assist prosecutors in the investigation and its operations remain normal.
Core Pacific Group’s (威京集團) CPDC is the largest shareholder of Core Pacific City, a shopping mall in Taipei’s Songshan District (松山).
The floor area ratio of the mall was allegedly increased with approval from Ko’s government.
Ying, a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) member, was allegedly the contact person between Ko and Core Pacific City.
City councilors have alleged that the extra floor area ratio enabled Core Pacific Group to derive extra financial gains of more than NT$40 billion (US$1.25 billion).
Increased floor area ratio is usually granted as an incentive in urban renewal projects to permit more floor area, but usually at 130 to 150 percent.
The project in question allegedly increased from 392 to 840 percent.
Additional reporting by Jason Pan
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