Taiwan's former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je went on the attack as his appeal opened, casting the case against him as political persecution rather than a real prosecution.

• Ko asked the High Court to livestream his trial, saying judges and prosecutors have nothing to fear if he is guilty.
• He accused prosecutors of deciding on the charges first and hunting for evidence afterward, then holding him in detention to squeeze out testimony.
• He said searches of his home and party headquarters turned up nothing that ended up in the indictment.
• Prosecutors have appealed every not-guilty finding from the first trial and are pushing for heavier sentences.
• More than NT$97 million of his assets remain frozen while the case is still being heard.

Outlook: The appeal will run for months, and the livestream request gives Ko a public platform whether or not the court grants it.