Ann Kao (高虹安) was suspended as mayor of Hsinchu following her conviction on corruption charges. Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) in an interview on Tuesday last week said that Kao’s loss of her civil servant role meant she would need an alternative source of income. Moreover, Kao needs money for lawyers, so Ko “feared that he would need to support her financially.”
Democratic Progressive Party New Taipei City Legislator Cho Kuan-ting (卓冠廷) posted on Facebook details from Kao’s bank statements, which showed that she had NT$18.1 million (US$557,953) in savings and no debt, throwing doubt on the idea that she would need financial support.
What is more perplexing is that during his time as Taipei mayor, Ko abolished the Taipei Department of Social Welfare’s practice of distributing cash gifts of NT$1,500 to elderly people on Double Ninth Festival.
Ko’s petty haggle over NT$1,500 to elderly people puts into perspective his contrasting attitude toward Kao, a young, well-educated woman whose net worth is nearly NT$20 million. Ko is a reverse Robin Hood.
Moreover, Kao has expressed her desire to cut ties with the TPP, announcing her resignation from the party on July 26, the day the court issued its verdict.
Ko is in no position to support Kao financially and even if she needed money, the responsibility would fall on her boyfriend, Lee Chung-ting (李忠庭).
What is Ko trying to gain from the situation? He has garnered considerable wealth from elections. In this year’s presidential election, Ko filled his pockets with NT$110 million in election subsidies and NT$340 million in political donations. Voicing an offer to support Kao is just Ko’s attempt to take advantage of her situation and draw attention to himself.
Sophia Lee is a member of the Taiwan Association of University Professors.
Translated by Wang Yun-fei
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