Kaohsiung Mayor Ko Wen-je Corruption Case: High Court Extends Tech Monitoring for Li Wen-chuan and Tuanmu Zheng by 8 Months

Central News Agency report (by reporter Liu Shih-yi, Taipei, June 11) — Former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je was sentenced to 17 years in the first-instance trial over corruption allegations, including the Wellcome City development case and political donations. The case has been appealed, and the Taiwan High Court has assigned a panel to hear the appeal, though the first hearing date has not yet been set. Yesterday, the panel ruled to extend electronic monitoring of defendants Li Wen-chuan and Tuanmu Zheng for an additional eight months.

According to the Taiwan High Court’s ruling, the current tech monitoring period for Li Wen-chuan and Tuanmu Zheng was due to expire on June 14. Li Wen-chuan’s defense argued that her alleged offense does not carry a severe penalty, that she has already posted a bail of NT$1.5 million, and that she currently has no income or means to support herself abroad. She lacks both the financial resources and background to flee overseas, making continued electronic surveillance unnecessary.

Tuanmu Zheng’s defense similarly argued that his first-instance sentence was not severe, that he had already paid NT$1 million in bail during the investigation phase, and that he must care for his elderly mother, eliminating any possibility or necessity of fleeing. Therefore, extending tech monitoring is unwarranted.

However, the appellate panel noted that Taiwan is surrounded by sea, creating a risk of illegal departure via smuggling routes. Judicial experience shows that even when high bail amounts are posted, some defendants abandon their businesses, assets, and families to flee abroad, rendering trials or enforcement impossible.

The panel emphasized that real-time location tracking via mobile phone check-ins provides more effective monitoring than simple bail or travel restrictions. This method allows authorities to track defendants’ whereabouts and better prevent flight. As such, the court ruled to extend tech monitoring for eight months.

The Taipei District Court concluded its first-instance trial on four major cases — including the Wellcome City development and Ko Wen-je’s political donations — on March 26, sentencing nine out of eleven defendants. Ko Wen-je received 17 years, KMT Taipei City Councilor Ying Hsiao-wei was sentenced to 15 years and six months, and Wellcome Group Chairman Shen Ching-ching received 10 years. The remaining six defendants received sentences ranging from one year to six years and six months. Both the Taipei Prosecutors’ Office and seven defendants, including Ko Wen-je, have filed appeals.

Under criminal case assignment rules, the Taiwan High Court used a computer lottery on May 25 to assign the case. Judge Lu Ning-li of the Qian division was selected as the presiding judge. The appellate panel consists of Chief Judge Chiu Tzu-shan of the Shan division and Associate Judge Liu Chao-chu of the Hsu division. (Edited by Hsiao Po-wen)