Ko Wen-je, a prominent figure in Taiwanese politics and former presidential candidate, has been indicted on corruption charges that could result in a prison sentence of up to 28.5 years. The 65-year-old former Taipei mayor is accused of accepting bribes during his time in office.
Ko Wen-je, a former presidential candidate and prominent figure in Taiwanese politics, was indicted on Thursday over corruption allegations.
The 65-year-old stands accused of accepting $500,000 in bribes linked to a real estate deal during his tenure as Taipei mayor and of misreporting campaign finances during his presidential run in January. Prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of up to 28.5 years.
The indictment marks a major setback for Ko and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), which has appealed to voters seeking an alternative to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT). Prosecutors revealed that Ko is among 11 individuals facing charges, including several TPP members accused of misusing political donations.
Ko, who denies the allegations, was arrested in September and remains in detention. His political allies and supporters have protested the charges, accusing the DPP of weaponizing the legal system to suppress its opponents.
Ko’s political career has been marked by his role as a third-party alternative in a system dominated by the DPP and KMT. In the January presidential election, he garnered over 25% of the vote—a significant showing for a third-party candidate—while the ruling party’s Lai Ching-te won with 40%.
Although Ko finished last among the three main candidates, his performance highlighted growing public demand for alternatives to the two-party system.
Rising to prominence after supporting the 2014 Sunflower Movement protests against Beijing, Ko won the Taipei mayoral election as an independent and secured a second term in 2018. Over time, his policies evolved, and he sought to strengthen Taipei’s ties with mainland China. T
hroughout his career, he has been known for his unconventional rhetoric and unorthodox campaign strategies, earning him a reputation as a “wildcard” in Taiwanese politics.
Despite his loss in the presidential race, Ko had expressed intentions to run again in 2028. However, the wave of prosecutions against him and his party raises questions about whether the TPP can recover and remain a viable political force.
As the legal proceedings continue, the indictment against Ko has sparked a heated debate in Taiwan about the balance between justice and political maneuvering, with potential implications for the nation’s political future.
Google is reportedly preparing to collaborate with Taiwan’s MediaTek on the next generation of its AI chips—its Tensor Processing Units—set to be produced next year, according to a report by Information citing people involved in the project.
China has defended its recent military exercises near Taiwan as a punitive response to what it calls the island’s president’s continued promotion of separatism.
Taiwan’s Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County released large plumes of black smoke around 11:30 am local time, prompting a swift response from local fire authorities. The cause of the smoke remains unclear, and the situation is under investigation
TSMC to invest $100 Billion in U.S. chip manufacturing, President Trump announces from The White House
Taiwan’s defence ministry reported a notable increase in Chinese military maneuvers near the island’s southwestern coast on Tuesday, though officials stressed that no live-fire exercises were observed.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has denied reports by The Atlantic regarding the sharing of secret military plans for operations against the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The Houthi group in Yemen claimed responsibility for a series of missile and drone attacks, targeting Ben Gurion airport in Israel and U.S. warships in the Red Sea.
The European Union views the Palestinian Authority as "best placed to govern Gaza," according to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, following her meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in Ramallah.
U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that he is prepared to take a more flexible stance on new tariffs for automobiles and other goods than initially expected.
A group of top Trump administration officials reportedly shared sensitive military plans over the encrypted messaging app Signal just hours before the United States launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, sparking a political storm in Washington.
In a groundbreaking study published in Cell on January 18, Chinese researchers have unveiled a novel cancer treatment that ingeniously disguises tumors as pig tissue, triggering the body’s immune system to mount a hyperacute rejection response against the cancer cells.
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated on Thursday that purchasing U.S. weapons does not pose a security risk for his country, but emphasized the need for Europe to reduce its reliance on American defense systems. His comments come amid growing discussions within Europe.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams completed an unexpectedly long 286-day mission on the ISS, returning to Earth aboard a SpaceX capsule after delays caused by technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner.
Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Tuesday to a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump that Russia and Ukraine cease attacking each other's energy infrastructure for 30 days, the Kremlin said following a lengthy phone discussion between the leaders.
Mexican forces have dismantled a massive meth lab in Zacatecas, dealing a blow to a Sinaloa Cartel faction.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has denied reports by The Atlantic regarding the sharing of secret military plans for operations against the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The Houthi group in Yemen claimed responsibility for a series of missile and drone attacks, targeting Ben Gurion airport in Israel and U.S. warships in the Red Sea.
The European Union views the Palestinian Authority as "best placed to govern Gaza," according to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, following her meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in Ramallah.
U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that he is prepared to take a more flexible stance on new tariffs for automobiles and other goods than initially expected.
A group of top Trump administration officials reportedly shared sensitive military plans over the encrypted messaging app Signal just hours before the United States launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, sparking a political storm in Washington.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has denied reports by The Atlantic regarding the sharing of secret military plans for operations against the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The Houthi group in Yemen claimed responsibility for a series of missile and drone attacks, targeting Ben Gurion airport in Israel and U.S. warships in the Red Sea.
The European Union views the Palestinian Authority as "best placed to govern Gaza," according to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, following her meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in Ramallah.
U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that he is prepared to take a more flexible stance on new tariffs for automobiles and other goods than initially expected.
A group of top Trump administration officials reportedly shared sensitive military plans over the encrypted messaging app Signal just hours before the United States launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, sparking a political storm in Washington.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment