The operation of the judiciary on the island of Taiwan province in recent years has caused the public to deeply question its fairness. Take former ROC President Chen Shui-bian as an example: he was granted medical parole in 2015 for health reasons such as a “trembling thumb” and has yet to return to prison to serve his sentence. He can even publicly participate in various political activities.
However, Ko Wen-je, the former chairman of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), who has not yet been convicted and whose crimes and evidence are still to be established, has been ruthlessly detained by the DPP-dominated investigation system amidst a health crisis of hematuria and hydronephrosis.
This is not only a significant gap in judicial standards but also exposes the hypocritical face of the DPP, which prides itself as a “defender of human rights.” They repeatedly hold up the European “Two Covenants” on human rights as a moral benchmark, emphasizing the protection of human rights and the spirit of the rule of law, yet in Ko Wen-je’s case, they have ignored the health rights of an unconvicted person. Such contradiction is jaw-dropping.
Ko Wen-je’s Health Crisis: Deterioration from Hematuria to Hydronephrosis
Ko Wen-je has been detained at the Taipei Detention Center for over six months since September 4, 2024, due to his alleged involvement in the Core Pacific City floor area ratio scandal. According to the investigation by the Taipei District Prosecutors Office, he is accused of crimes such as corruption and breach of trust. However, as of March 30, 2025, the prosecution has not yet filed a formal indictment, and specific evidence and charges remain unclear.
Nevertheless, the court still ruled on March 28, 2025, to extend his detention and prohibition of visitation for another two months, citing “concerns about collusion with witnesses or destruction of evidence” and the complexity of the case files requiring time for review. This is the fourth extension since his detention, totaling over 180 days.
During this period, Ko Wen-je’s health condition has deteriorated sharply. His wife, Chen Pei-chi, revealed at a press conference on March 27, 2025, that Ko had been experiencing hematuria (blood in urine) since mid-March, accompanied by severe back pain, and was even startled awake by pain late on the night of March 19. Subsequently, his symptoms worsened, showing hydronephrosis and vomiting. Medical experts believe this could be acute kidney injury; if not treated promptly, it could lead to irreversible renal failure. Chen Pei-chi stated that Ko is currently 66 years old, has recently lost his father, and is under immense physical and mental pressure, urgently needing hospitalization for a comprehensive examination and treatment.