Taiwan's High Court is reviewing the political donations case against former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je, and the accountant at the center of the paperwork now admits guilt — bad news for him, worse for Ko's defense.

• Accountant Tuan Mu Cheng, paid monthly to handle donation filings for Ko's campaign, got a one-year sentence at trial for signing off on false records.
• He has switched to a guilty plea on appeal but is fighting the sentence, asking for a fine and probation instead of prison.
• Prosecutors want the opposite — a tougher sentence, arguing he both faked transactions and then rubber-stamped them with a false audit report sent to the Control Yuan.
• His defense says he filed the paperwork early as a shortcut because the Control Yuan was pressing for it, with co-defendants promising receipts later.
• The court has split the sprawling case into three parts: political donations, improper benefit, and bribery.

Outlook: Co-defendants Lee Wen-tsung and Lee Wen-chuan are due in court on Oct. 19, with Ko Wen-je himself called for Nov. 16.