The Taipei District Court yesterday opened its trial into a corruption case involving a Taipei development project during the tenure of then-Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) and the use of political donations during Ko’s presidential campaign, with some defendants admitting guilt, while others maintained their innocence.
Former Taipei deputy mayor Pong Cheng-sheng (彭振聲) was the first defendant brought in, followed by former Taipei Urban Planning Commission executive secretary Shao Hsiu-pei (邵琇珮) and Ko’s presidential campaign finance manager, Lee Wen-tsung (李文宗).
Prosecutors last month indicted Ko on charges of corruption, embezzlement and breach of trust, alleging that he assisted Core Pacific Group (威京集團) and its subsidiary in gaining unlawful financial benefits of more than NT$12.105 billion (US$369.4 million).
Photo: CNA
Pong, Shao and Lee were among the 10 defendants alongside Ko indicted on breaches of the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例), as well as embezzlement, bribery, forgery of documents and tampering with evidence.
Prosecutors also pressed charges against Ko, Lee and several other defendants for accounting fraud, embezzlement and personally profiting from political donations during last year’s presidential campaign in contravention of the Political Donations Act (政治獻金法) and other statutes.
Pong pled guilty, saying in his opening statement through his lawyer that he had “told investigators everything that I know, and admit to the charges against me. I will not retract these statements.”
His lawyer had some questions about the scope of the indictment and asked that the judges for more time to prepare for the defense, adding that Pong would not retract his testimony and had admitted to his involvement in the case.
Shao was quoted as already admitting to involvement, as her lawyers cited her cooperation and testimony during the investigation, and requested a reduced term and suspended sentence.
Prosecutors agreed with the statements by the defense and asked the court for more lenient terms for Pong and Shao, also citing that both had no prior criminal record, as well as provisions for defendants to receive reduced sentencing under the Witness Protection Act (證人保護法) for assisting prosecutors.
Meanwhile, Lee, who also served as director of the Taiwan Prestige and Solicitude Foundation, denied any wrongdoing.
Lee denied that the foundation and marketing firm Muko Public Relations (木可行銷公關), which was headed by his sister, Lee Wen-chuan (李文娟), were fronts for money laundering and illegal personal profiteering from political contributions by individuals and businesses for Ko’s presidential campaign.
The foundation was set up for Ko and the Taiwan People’s Party to promote their core values and party principles by engaging in charitable events, while the Muko Public Relations was a for-profit business, his defense said.
He received guidance from Ko, who told him that Muko would pay the wages of the campaign staff, and would manage the registration of health insurance and pension plans for them, Lee’s lawyers said.
Prosecutors have accused Lee of taking NT$2.1 million in bribes in the Core Pacific Mall redevelopment project, that he had misappropriated funds by using Ko’s image and likeness to sell campaign souvenirs, and had embezzled NT$8.27 million of donations to the foundation.
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