Former presidential candidate arrested in property scandal

Ko Wen-je, the former mayor of Taipei and leader of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), was arrested on Saturday after a 19-hour interrogation over his alleged involvement in a property development scandal.

The scandal dates back to his tenure as mayor from 2014 to 2022.

Ko, who ran as a third-party presidential candidate in January and secured a quarter of the votes, has denied all wrongdoing. However, he announced a three-month leave from his party leadership role on Thursday amid the corruption allegations.

The TPP has expressed support for Ko’s right to seek relief according to law, after his lawyer’s request to review the legality of his arrest was rejected by the Taipei District Court.

Ko’s arrest comes at a crucial time for the TPP, which holds a kingmaker status in Taiwan’s parliament after securing eight seats in the January election. The party’s role in passing controversial reforms to expand parliament’s powers has been a subject of debate, with proponents arguing it is necessary to curb corruption.

As the investigation continues, Ko’s fate and the future of the TPP remain uncertain.