Former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je was handed a heavy 17-year sentence at first instance. The appeal opens on the 8th, and while the verdict could be softened, it could also be made harsher — a high-risk moment for both Ko himself and the Taiwan People's Party.

• The High Court holds its first hearing tomorrow, beginning with preparatory proceedings in the political donations case.
• The disputes in the case centre on five points: whether the Core Pacific City floor-area incentives were lawful; whether Ko knew there were problems and pushed the project through anyway; whether the NT$2.1 million donated by the company was a political donation or a bribe; whether the accounts given by the two officials who pleaded guilty can be admitted as evidence; and whether funds from Muko and the Zhongwang Foundation were misappropriated.
• The 17-year term does not stem from a single charge — the bribery count alone accounts for 13 years. If either the lawfulness of the floor-area incentives or the quid pro quo between the money and the favours is overturned, the sentence could fall substantially.
• Ko's side argues that a mayor is not an urban planning expert and was merely deferring to the professional review process, that the money was all wired into legally designated accounts, and that there is no direct evidence that terms were agreed.
• Prosecutors have also appealed, including on the NT$15 million element that the first-instance court did not accept, so a reduced sentence or acquittal are not the only possible outcomes at the appeal.

Outlook: The appeal will re-examine the lawfulness of the floor-area incentives and the nature of the money flows. A reversal on any one finding would affect the final sentence, and the outcome could go in either direction.