Ko Wen-je's Aide Wanted: Taiwan's Corruption Probe Goes International

Hsu Chih-yu, Linked to Ex-Mayor's Corruption Case, Faces International Search

Taipei, Taiwan - The Ministry of Justice's Investigation Bureau has declared a close aide of former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) a wanted person, escalating the ongoing corruption investigation that has captured significant attention across Taiwan.

The aide, Hsu Chih-yu (許芷瑜), is a person of interest in the case involving Ko Wen-je and is believed to have fled overseas. The Investigation Bureau suspects she may be hiding in either Japan or Australia.

Hsu, nicknamed "Orange," was added to the bureau's Fugitive Online Query System, revealing she departed Taiwan on August 29, 2024. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office issued an arrest warrant for the 38-year-old on October 24, 2024, alleging violations of the Anti-Corruption Act and other laws related to the Ko Wen-je case.

The former Taipei Mayor, Ko Wen-je, who is also the founder and former chairman of the opposition Taiwan People's Party (TPP), was indicted on December 26 on corruption charges, including taking bribes related to real estate matters during his second term as mayor from 2018 to 2022. Ko Wen-je, who was also the TPP's presidential candidate in the 2024 election, faces accusations of embezzling political donations. Prosecutors have requested a sentence of 28 years and six months.

According to prosecutors, Ko Wen-je allegedly entrusted bribes he received to Hsu Chih-yu. Investigators say that Hsu, acting under Ko's instructions, quickly booked a flight to Japan on August 29 after returning to Taiwan from an overseas trip.

Despite efforts to secure her return through friends, prosecutors issued an arrest warrant after she failed to respond to a legal summons. The Bureau of Consular Affairs has been requested to cancel Hsu’s passport, and extradition requests have been made through judicial cooperation channels.

The Investigation Bureau is actively tracking Hsu's whereabouts, and legal attachés abroad are seeking judicial assistance from countries where she may have traveled. The case has become a focal point for political discussions in Taiwan, with ongoing investigations expected to reveal further details about the alleged corruption.