Ko Wen-je's wife complains about electronic wristband; activist points to past alerts, lenient treatment

Chen Pei-chi, wife of Taiwan People's Party Chairman Ko Wen-je, has voiced concerns over the inconvenience and potential health risks associated with his electronic monitoring wristband. She complained that the device's charging cable easily detaches due to arm movements and expressed worry that prolonged exposure to moisture could lead to skin allergies or even ulceration. This follows Ko's earlier switch from an electronic ankle monitor to a wristband.

Chang Yu-meng, director of the Taiwan Youth Democratic Association, questioned Chen Pei-chi's complaints, highlighting that Ko Wen-je himself had appealed against wearing the electronic ankle monitor. Chang pointed out that during the period Ko wore the ankle monitor, it triggered 53 Level 3 alerts. These alerts included instances where the device was offline for over 30 minutes and times when Ko traveled near coastal areas in Miaoli, Taichung, and Chiayi.

Chang asserted that the High Court's decision to change the monitoring device from an ankle monitor to a wristband constituted "generous courtesy" for Ko Wen-je. He emphasized that Ko was handed a heavy sentence of 17 years in the first trial, a sentence that implies serious charges, especially given the minimum sentence requirement of five years for serious offenses. Chang criticized Ko and his spokesperson for presenting the electronic wristband as a "fashionable accessory" while Chen Pei-chi simultaneously complained about its potential to harm her husband's skin.

Additionally, Chang criticized Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen for her remarks to Ko, which he interpreted as encouraging further defiance. Lu reportedly told Ko, "So we must be braver." Chang sarcastically questioned the need for bravery, implying it might be a call for shared corruption. The article notes that Ko Wen-je has governed Kinchil twice, from 2015-2018 and currently from 2024-2027, and recently delivered his second government report.