Ko Wen-je's Rivals React to His Arrest

The political rivals of former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je react to his second arrest as he faces corruption charges.

Transcript

00:00Just days after his release, former Taipei mayor Ke Wen-je is handcuffed and led into

00:07a police van.

00:08As allegations of corruption during his time as mayor hang in the air, prosecutors convinced

00:13the court to reverse its decision to let Ke go for the time being.

00:17While this second arrest wasn't a total surprise, it has the party Ke founded, the Taiwan People's

00:21Party, in emergency mode.

00:26The head of the party's caucus had to cut short a radio interview after news broke

00:30and party leaders called an urgent meeting.

00:32The question at hand is whether Ke helped the owner of a shopping mall get planning

00:36permission to massively expand its floor space.

00:39Ke says he knew nothing about the matter, but prosecutors think there may have been

00:42a corrupt deal involving Ke and other city officials, and that the extra floor space

00:47earned the mall's owner around US$625 million in illicit extra profits.

00:52Ke has tried to reassure his supporters in a recorded message, saying the media and his

00:56rivals are trying to smash political opposition, but that he'll fight to the end.

01:06And his party has rallied around a criticism of the entire legal process.

01:23As Ke's party maintains Ke's innocence, the other two main parties say they'll leave it

01:27to the courts to decide.

01:53But Ke's fate could have big political consequences.

01:56This legislature is split three ways, with no majority.

01:59Though the smallest of the three, Ke's party, which centers on him, is therefore the decider.

02:04This scandal from years ago may just upset the political balance of power for years to

02:09come.

02:10Andy Hsueh and John Van Triest for Taiwan Plus.