Former Taiwan People's Party (TPP) chairman Ko Wen-je was found guilty by a court in Taipei in a corruption case on Thursday and sentenced to 17 years in prison, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Thursday. 

Ko was accused of involvement in the Core Pacific City floor area ratio corruption case during his time as Mayor of Taipei. On August 30, 2024, Taiwan regional prosecutors and the anti-corruption authorities raided Ko's residence, office, and the TPP headquarters in Taipei. On August 31, Ko was arrested in court. On September 5, the Taipei District Court ruled to detain him without visitation rights, according to report from China Central Television (CCTV) News.

On December 26, 2024, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office concluded its investigation and indicted Ko and 10 others on charges of four crimes — receiving bribes in violation of official duties, profiteering, embezzlement of political donations intended for public interest, and breach of trust — with prosecutors requesting a total sentence of 28 years and six months on Ko, per the CCTV News.

In response to a media inquiry regarding the comment on the former Taiwan People's Party (TPP) chairman Ko Wen-je, who was sentenced in the first instance to 17 years in prison and six years of deprivation of civil rights on Thursday, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Thursday that the Lai Ching-te administration, in pursuit of political self-interest, have been blatantly manipulating the judiciary to suppress political dissent, implementing what she described as "green terror" and practicing a "those who follow will prosper, those who oppose will perish" approach.

Such actions have already sparked growing public resentment and opposition on the island. Those who commit many unjust acts will eventually destroy themselves, and these retrogressive moves will inevitably be opposed and rejected by the people of Taiwan island, said Zhu.