By Wang Ting-chuan, Lin Che-yuan and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporters, with staff writer
Former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday was temporarily released from jail to receive medical treatment for a health emergency.
The former Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) chairman had been held at the Taipei Detention Center to await trial after being indicted for alleged embezzlement and corruption during his time as mayor linked to the Core Pacific City urban renewal project.
He was released to a hospital for unspecified medical issues on Friday last week.
Former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je is pictured in an undated photograph.
Photo: Taipei Times
Ko was allowed to go to a hospital, the center said yesterday, but declined to provide further information, citing medical privacy rules.
Ko was scheduled for surgery today at the Ministry of Health and Welfare Taipei Hospital, a source said on condition of anonymity.
Agency of Corrections officials previously said that Ko became ill during his incarceration and has been receiving medical attention.
The TPP, which previously said that Ko was showing symptoms of kidney failure, said it could not confirm rumors that he had hydronephrosis and stones in one kidney.
The party had no information beyond that which corrections officials had disclosed publicly, it said.
Ko should be allowed to make private medical arrangements outside of the correctional institution to preserve his right to healthcare, it added.
