Former Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) chairman Ko Wen-je walked free on Monday after nearly a year in detention over alleged corruption tied to a controversial land development project, stirring hopes of a political comeback and new headaches for the ruling authorities.
Ko, who finished third for the island’s top job in last year’s general elections, was released on NT$70 million (US$2.3 million) bail, the highest in Taiwan’s history.
The former Taipei mayor wasted no time in lashing out at Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te and the judiciary, accusing them of fracturing the island and eroding trust in democratic institutions.
“Why let the whole [of Taiwan] split apart? William Lai, think this through carefully,” Ko told cheering supporters outside a Taipei detention house.
Wearing a white T-shirt bearing his nickname ‘KP’, Ko thanked his followers, known as “little grass”, while voicing anger at his prosecutors. He recounted raids on his home and office and scrutiny of his family’s accounts that had yielded nothing.
