The Taipei District Prosecutors Office (TDPO) maintains that Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) and Hsu Chih-yu (許芷瑜), who is still at large, need to be detained to prevent co-defendant and witness collusion.

Four people involved in the Core Pacific City scandal, including former Taipei City Mayor and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Ko Wen-je, were granted bail again this week. Ko’s latest bail amounts to NT$70 million (USD$2.1 million) and stipulates that Ko must wear an electronic ankle monitor. The TDPO stated that while the defendants are being monitored, there is still a chance that they could collude or flee abroad. 

The TDPO emphasized the key role that Hsu Chih-yu, Ko’s personal secretary and confidant, played in this case. According to their statement, Ko instructed Hsu to flee to Japan on August 29 after handing her large amounts of cash for processing and safekeeping, solidifying her role as both suspect and witness. Prosecutors stated that a warrant was issued for her arrest in late October, and a request for passport revocation was issued. 

Hsu reportedly headed to Australia from Japan after applying for an electronic travel visa through a mobile app. Taiwan and Australia do not share a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty or extradition treaty, according to the Australian government’s Attorney-General’s Department.

The TDPO maintains that detaining both parties is necessary to prevent collusion through software or third parties, and ensure a fair and accurate trial. The Taipei District Court confirmed it had received the TDPO’s appeal and sent it to the High Court for further processing.