Taiwan’s former presidential candidate accused of corruption

Wen-je, once a rising star in Taiwanese politics and a presidential contender, was convicted of corruption on Thursday.

The 65-year-old is accused of accepting a $500,000 bribe in a case related to a real estate deal during his tenure as mayor of Taipei, as well as falsely reporting campaign finance during his presidential campaign in January. There is also an allegation.

Prosecutors are seeking up to 28.5 years in prison.

Ko’s impeachment is a significant blow to the political movement he represents, which has struck a deep chord among voters looking for an alternative to the ruling Democratic People’s Party and the main opposition Kuomintang.

Ko, who denies the corruption charges, was arrested in September and detained.

Prosecutors said Thursday that he was among 11 people being tried. Several other members of his Taiwan People Party have also been accused of misusing political donations.

A dark horse in January’s presidential electionKo won more than 25% of the vote – not far behind ruling party candidate Lai Ching-tey’s 40%.

Observers said at the time that even though Ko finished last among three presidential candidates, his strong performance pointed to voters’ demand for a more pluralistic political landscape beyond the two main parties.

Ko rose to prominence by branding itself as a third choice beyond the two main parties. He criticized the DPP for stoking tensions with Beijing, which views the self-ruled island as its own territory, but also blamed the KMT for being too overbearing.

After supporting protesters during the anti-Beijing Sunflower Movement in 2014, Ko was elected mayor of Taipei as an independent candidate.

He won a second term in 2018, but changed his politics and expanded Taipei’s ties with mainland China.

Long known as a wildcard in Taiwanese politicsKo has stirred controversy with his fiery rhetoric and bizarre campaign ideas. He has been described as a “gaffe machine” and starred in a rap video regarding his 2018 re-election bid.

Following his defeat in the presidential elections, he vowed not to abandon his political career and was expected to seek the presidency again in 2028. But it remains to be seen whether his party can overcome the wave of lawsuits.

Ko’s arrest has sparked protests from his allies and supporters, who have accused the DPP of using charges to suppress his opponents.