00:00Here at the Taipei District Court, former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je has just been sentenced to 17 years in
00:05a high-profile corruption trial.
00:07This marks a dramatic turn in a case that's gripped the nation.
00:13The 66-year-old was found guilty of accepting over half a million U.S. dollars in bribes while mayor,
00:19and he was convicted of embezzling another two million U.S. dollars in political funds during his 2024 presidential run.
00:26Under the ruling, Ko will have his civil rights taken away for six years.
00:30Outside the courthouse, supporters say they still have hope for his Taiwan People's Party and the movement he started.
00:37We are now in the 2nd, to see if there will be a better outcome.
00:43I believe that Taiwan People's Party in this year after the皇國昌 president,
00:50we are not just one-on-one.
00:53So I believe that Kho will not be able to choose the president.
01:10Prosecutors had originally sought 28 and a half years for Ke.
01:13Several other defendants from his Taipei City Government and TPP campaign
01:17also received sentences for their involvement in the cases.
01:20Those ranged from one to 15 and a half years in prison.
01:24Lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party say they respect the court's decision.
01:28Ke's TPP has called the case judicial persecution against a figure who's threatened the DPP's grip on power.
01:35Ke and his co-defendants still have the chance to appeal,
01:38and that may very well be his next move as he faces this hefty 17-year sentence
01:43and the possible end of his political career.
01:46Lu Phili, Scott Huang and Tiffany Wong in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.
Comments