TAIPEI: Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Acting Chairman Huang Kuo-chang criticized the Taiwan High Court's recent decision to revoke the bail release of the party's former leader, Ko Wen-je, as his detention hearing approaches. Huang suggested, without evidence, that the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) influenced the court's decision, causing societal unrest.According to Focus Taiwan, Huang was appointed acting chairman after Ko stepped down from the leadership on Wednesday. He expressed concerns about the judicial process, stating it demonstrated the DPP's alleged determination to see Ko detained. Ko, previously mayor of Taipei, was indicted on corruption charges alongside 11 others on December 26 and is scheduled for a third detention hearing to determine his bail status.Ko's legal journey has been fraught with challenges. Initially held incommunicado for nearly four months, he was released on NT$30 million bail last December by the Taipei District Court. However, following the Taipei District Pro secutors Office's appeal, the High Court revoked this decision. A subsequent court order for Ko's release on NT$70 million bail, with electronic monitoring, was again overturned by the High Court, citing differing reasons for each revocation.Huang questioned the justice of the judicial process, noting the changing rationale for bail revocation-from flight risk to potential evidence collusion. Despite these legal hurdles, there is no evidence of interference by the DPP-led government in the investigations into Ko and the TPP, which relate to alleged crimes during Ko's mayoral term and the January 2024 elections.TPP Secretary-General Vincent Chou reported a surge of 3,000 new party membership applications following Ko's resignation announcement. However, these new members will not be eligible to vote in the upcoming leadership election due to the party's membership tenure requirements. Ko expressed hope for a new TPP chairperson to be elected by February.