The judge approved the Ke Wenzhe political donation case! Duan Muzheng and Li Wenjuan all plead guilty and have their technological surveillance revoked

Former Taipei Mayor Ko Wenzhe was sentenced to 17 years in prison in the first instance for his involvement in Beijing City and political donation cases. The case was appealed and is currently being heard by the High Court in the second instance.

Co-defendants Li Wenjuan, the sister of accountant Duan Muzheng and Ke Wenzhe's chief executive Li Wenzong, pleaded guilty in the second trial and both appeared in court on time. They each requested to cancel the monitoring of technological equipment. The High Court found that the two men had pleaded guilty and there was no need to continue monitoring, and the ruling was revoked. The two men no longer need to take photos of their faces and upload them to the monitoring center at 10 a.m. every day, but they still need to report to the police station once every two weeks and can protest.

Due to their involvement in the political donation case, Duan Muzheng and Li Wenjuan have been monitored by technological equipment since August 15, 2024. They must take photos of their faces through their mobile phones at 10 a.m. every day and simultaneously transmit them to the technological equipment monitoring center.

The first instance verdict of the Ke Wenzhe case was announced on March 26 this year. Duanmu Zheng was sentenced to one year in prison for using his business to publish false information, and Li Wenjuan was also sentenced to two years and April. Both of them and the prosecutor were dissatisfied with the verdict and appealed. In June this year, the High Court ruled that technology monitoring would be extended for eight months starting from June 15.

Li Wenjuan's petition pointed out that she had admitted in the second instance that she had jointly committed the crime of public welfare embezzlement and violated the commercial accounting law. She was in her sixties, had no ability to make a living, and did not have the financial resources and background to escape overseas.

She advocated that her mother, who is over 90 years old, has been in poor health recently. She hopes that she can accompany her on short-term trips and cruises while she is still alive. She hopes to show her filial piety and requests that technological surveillance be cancelled.

Duanmu Zhengze argued that he has been subject to technological monitoring since August 2024, and it has been more than 2 years. However, the crime involved in publishing false and accurate documents on the exercise business carries a maximum sentence of less than 3 years in prison, and the first instance only sentenced him to 1 year in prison. Continuous monitoring is inappropriate.

Duanmuzheng emphasized that he confessed to the crime at the second trial and cooperated in court. There is no risk of evading trial or colluding with witnesses. He also has to take care of his elderly mother. In addition, he has paid a deposit of 1 million yuan, so there is no need to abandon the bail and abscond.

The collegial bench of the High Court considered that Duan Muzheng and Li Wenjuan both appeared in court as scheduled after being summoned, showing their willingness to actively accept judicial trials. Moreover, they had confessed to the crime during the second trial preparation process and had good attitudes.

The collegial panel considered the lives and family conditions of the two people and the impact of technological surveillance. In addition, Duanmuzheng had already paid a deposit of 1 million yuan and Li Wenjuan had paid a deposit of 1.5 million yuan, which was objectively enough to ensure that they would actually appear in court. Therefore, it determined that there was no need to continue to require facial photos to be taken and uploaded every day, and it ruled to revoke the penalty of technological equipment surveillance.