The Taipei District Court today began presenting evidence in a corruption case involving Taipei’s Core Pacific City development project.
Former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), who is a defendant in the case, said before this morning’s hearing that today is an “important day in Taiwan’s judicial history.”
He vowed to “fight to the end” not only for his own innocence, but for the development of Taipei’s governance and the dignity of public servants.
Photo: CNA
The court is to hold an evidence presentation today and tomorrow, with prosecutors and defense attorneys stating their opinion on more than 200 volumes of evidence, including witness testimonies, physical evidence and documents.
All 11 defendants, including Ko, and their defense lawyers were present.
Oral arguments are expected to begin on Monday.
The former Taiwan People’s Party chairman was detained on Sept. 5 last year and indicted a couple months later in December on four charges, including allegedly accepting NT$17.1 million (US$547,235) in bribes related to the property redevelopment of Core Pacific City during his second term as Taipei mayor from 2018 to 2022.
Other defendants include Taipei City Councilor Angela Ying (應曉薇) and Core Pacific Group chairman Sheen Ching-jing (沈慶京).
Ko has requested that the oral arguments and final ruling be broadcast publicly.
The court approved broadcast of the ruling within five days of it being announced, although Ko has appealed and is asking the Taiwan High Court to independently approve live public broadcasting.
The judiciary is “the last line of defense" for the nation, and it must not become a tool for those in power to persecute people, nor must it collude with the media to become a political enforcer, Ko said.
The case revolves around allegations that Taipei officials granted extra floor area ratio to Core Pacific Group, allowing it to derive extra financial gains of more than NT$40 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.
However, the project allegedly saw the floor area ratio increase from 392 to 840 percent.
The floor area ratio is the ratio of a building's total floor area to the size of the parcel of land on which it is built.
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