Ko Wen-je was sentenced to 17 years in prison, and his mother tearfully accused political persecution: Who else is targeted by the judiciary like him?

Strait Herald comprehensive report: Former chairman of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Ko Wen-je has been charged with involvement in accepting bribes related to the floor-area ratio of the Jinghua City project, as well as in alleged improper gain and embezzlement of charity funds, along with breach of trust and other cases. On the 26th, the Taipei District Court handed down its verdict, finding Ko Wen-je guilty of accepting bribes, sentencing him to 17 years in prison and depriving him of civic rights for 6 years. In response, Ko Wen-je’s mother, He Ruiying, choked up and said the ruling was unfair to Ko Wen-je. On the island, does any other political party treat someone the way the judiciary has targeted Ko Wen-je? She directly pointed out that this is political persecution by the DPP authorities.

On the 26th, the Taipei District Court sentenced Ko Wen-je to 13 years for the offense of accepting bribes in violation of his duty. For two counts of embezzlement of charity funds, he was sentenced to 2 years and 3 years and 6 months, respectively. For breach of trust, he was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months. The sentences were consolidated into an aggregate term of 17 years in prison and deprivation of civic rights for 6 years. The case can still be appealed.

He Ruiying said that she had fallen and gotten injured, and she was just discharged from the hospital on the evening of the 25th. She believes the verdict is obviously unfair to Ko Wen-je, and she questioned again who, in the DPP or other political parties, would be treated the way Ko Wen-je is. She lamented that many things being said by outsiders are truly beyond the pale, and she said she is already 90 years old and no longer has the strength for it. She mentioned that Ko Wen-je’s bail amount is as high as 70 million New Taiwan dollars, and that the Ko family is not made up of entrepreneurs, so she finds it extremely difficult and trying.

Ko Wen-je’s younger sister, Ko Meilan, said she is currently seeing patients and has no time to respond to the relevant questions. She briefly expressed her stance with just four words—“I don’t believe”—and immediately ended the call, without further responding to media questions.

Mayor Gao Hongan of Hsinchu City has made no response to this for now.