Core Pacific City Corruption Case: High Court Selects Judge via Lottery

Central News Agency, Taipei, May 25. Following the first-instance conviction of former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je for corruption, resulting in a 17-year prison sentence, Ko and seven other defendants have appealed, refusing to accept the verdict. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office has also appealed regarding the sentencing of nine individuals. Upon receiving the case files today, the High Court conducted a computer lottery to assign the case. The Taiwan High Court issued a press release stating that following the Taipei District Court's '113-year Jin-Su-Zi No. 51' verdict in the Core Pacific City case, both the prosecutors and Ko Wen-je et al. filed appeals. According to the release, in accordance with the High Court's criminal case assignment guidelines, the lottery was held at 4:55 PM today, selecting Judge Lu Ning-li of the 'Qian' division as the reporting judge. The collegiate bench consists of Presiding Judge Chiu Tzu-shan of the 'Shan' division and Associate Judge Liu Chao-chu of the 'Xu' division. The Taipei District Court, which heard the four major cases including the Core Pacific City case and Ko Wen-je's political donation scandal, delivered its verdict on March 26 this year. Of the 11 defendants, nine were found guilty. Ko Wen-je was sentenced to 17 years, KMT Taipei City Councilor Ying Hsiao-wei to 15 years and 6 months, and Core Pacific Group Chairman Shen Ching-ching to 10 years, with the remaining six receiving sentences ranging from one year to six years and six months. Both the Taipei District Prosecutors Office and seven of the defendants have filed appeals.