Taipei prosecutors yesterday questioned Core Pacific City (京華城) board chairman Chen Yu-kun (陳玉坤) about alleged bribes and kickbacks to Taipei City Government officials.
Chen is one of the six identified suspects in the case along with former Taipei mayor and Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) and Taipei City Councilor Angela Ying (應曉薇). The suspects are facing charges under the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例).
Investigators late last month conducted searches and summoned the key figures for questioning. Chen was released on Aug. 29 on NT$12 million (US$376,058) bail. Core Pacific Group chairman Sheen Ching-jing (沈慶京), Ko, Ying and former Taipei deputy mayor Pong Cheng-sheng (彭振聲) have been in pretrial detention.
Photo: Chen Tsai-ling, Taipei Times
The investigation’s focus is the Core Pacific City redevelopment project, the application process of which began in 2018, during Ko’s second term as Taipei mayor.
Ying, and some other politicians and city officials, allegedly with the approval of Ko, allowed Core Pacific Group to increase its floor area ratio to 840 percent, according to prosecutors.
Meanwhile, Sheen’s lawyers have applied for his release. The application cited Sheen’s ill health, saying that he needs medical treatment.
However, the Taipei District Court rejected the application. The court returned the application to lawyers, as it was missing Sheen’s signature.
Sheen’s lawyers can submit another application in the next seven days.
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