Taipei: The Control Yuan has imposed a fine of NT$3.74 million (US$118,000) on former Taiwan People's Party Chairman Ko Wen-je for breaching political donation laws during his 2024 presidential campaign.
According to Focus Taiwan, the top government watchdog also announced the confiscation of NT$55.79 million in campaign funds following an audit report approved by the Control Yuan's Committee on Anti-Corruption. This report scrutinized the accounting records of income and expenditure related to political donations for Ko's campaign between May 20, 2023, and February 12, 2024.
The Control Yuan highlighted that Ko's running mate, Wu Hsin-ying, was not penalized. However, the accounting firm responsible for auditing the financial reports, Tuanmu Cheng, will face disciplinary measures.
The probe into Ko's campaign finances began after a complaint by Taipei City Councilor Lin Yen-feng, a member of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, alongside four others. This led the watchdog to thoroughly examine the financial aspects of Ko's campaign.
Ko has been detained and kept incommunicado since early January, following his indictment in December on charges of bribery, embezzlement, and breach of public trust. These allegations are connected to his second term as Taipei's mayor from 2018 to 2022 and events surrounding the 2024 presidential election.