Taipei: The Taiwan High Court on Friday rejected an appeal by former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je to have the upcoming oral arguments and subsequent ruling in his court case broadcast live. Ko, the founder and former chair of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), was among 11 individuals indicted in December 2024 in a corruption case where Core Pacific Group Chairman Sheen Ching-jing is alleged to have bribed Ko for favorable treatment during his tenure as mayor.

According to Focus Taiwan, the Taipei District Court began a two-day evidence presentation on Thursday, during which prosecutors and defense attorneys reviewed more than 200 volumes of evidence, including witness testimonies, physical exhibits, and documents. All 11 defendants, including Ko, and their defense lawyers were present for both days of the evidence presentation. Oral arguments are scheduled to begin on Monday.

Ko had earlier requested that the upcoming oral arguments and subsequent ruling be broadcast live. However, on Dec. 2, the Taipei District Court decided that only a delayed broadcast of the ruling would be made public within five days of its announcement, a decision that affects Ko and other defendants as well. Ko later appealed that decision to the High Court.

Just before Thursday's evidence presentation, Ko expressed hope that a live broadcast would allow him to explain his position directly to the public. He stated that he had a clear conscience and believed live coverage would better show the public what really happened.

On Friday, the High Court maintained that the district court's decision had been carried out appropriately in accordance with Article 12 of the Regulations Governing the Public Broadcasting of Court Audio and Video Recordings. Ko faces a potential sentence of 28.5 years for allegedly accepting bribes of NT$17.1 million (US$548,261) in a property development deal during his tenure as Taipei mayor and embezzling political donations during his 2024 presidential campaign as leader of the TPP.