Chen Pei-chi, wife of former Taiwan People’s Party chairman Ko Wen-je, posted on social media saying Ko Wen-je may have contracted human papillomavirus (HPV) due to toilet hygiene issues during his time at Taipei Detention Center (referred to as “Bei Suo”).
On Saturday (September 20), Chen Pei-chi posted on Facebook, mentioning that in addition to nightly monitoring center phone calls to check her whereabouts, she also referred to a wound on Ko Wen-je’s buttocks. She stated that Ko Wen-je told her the prison cell toilet was a sit-down type, and since alcohol was not available at the detention center, “he said he would wipe around the toilet with a tissue before sitting down. Maybe he felt the cleaning wasn’t thorough enough, so he self-diagnosed it as an HPV infection.”
Chen Pei-chi also clarified that it was a “suspected” infection, because this was Ko Wen-je’s own assessment: “He didn’t have a mobile phone at Bei Suo, no way to take photos, nor could he see the wound. He could only feel the lesion by touch, and thought there was a hard lump... Usually, doctors can diagnose visually, and the on-site doctor at Bei Suo didn’t deny his diagnosis.”
HPV is a virus mainly contracted by women, mostly transmitted through sexual contact around the genital area, some strains of which can cause genital warts, commonly known as ‘cauliflower.’
Additionally, Chen Pei-chi questioned the hygiene of the food containers provided at Bei Suo. In her post, she wrote that it’s hard for modern people to imagine how one survives in a nine-square-meter detention cell. Meals are placed in a basin-like container, with all food mixed together, reminiscent of the harsh treatment of ancient prisoners on TV dramas. “The scene is just like when we take food scraps to feed cats or dogs.”
Chen Pei-chi concluded by saying if Ko Wen-je’s wound does not heal over time, she will insist he see a dermatologist, and has already scheduled a full-body health check-up for next week.
According to United Daily News, while Ko Wen-je was detained at Bei Suo, he shared a two-person cell, and the bath and toilet were of the sit-down type. For safety reasons, there was no plastic seat that could be lifted. If the toilet was too dirty or smelled bad, one could request diluted bleach from the authorities for cleaning.
In response to Chen Pei-chi’s post, Bei Suo issued a statement clarifying that all detainees’ meals are provided in accordance with regulations, and depending on the number of diners, eating habits, food hygiene and type, appropriate stainless steel utensils are used for serving.
Ko Wen-je is accused of corruption, breach of trust, and public-interest embezzlement during his term as Taipei mayor in relation to the Jinghua City case and a presidential election political donation case. Prosecutors are seeking a total sentence of 28 and a half years. He has been detained and denied visits since September 2024, and has entered and left Taipei Detention Center three times in one year.
Ko Wen-je and Taipei City Councilor Ying Hsiao-wei, also implicated in the Jinghua City case, were released on bail on September 8, with Ko’s set at NT$70 million (about RM9.82 million) and Ying’s at NT$30 million.
On Saturday (September 20), Chen Pei-chi posted on Facebook, mentioning that in addition to nightly monitoring center phone calls to check her whereabouts, she also referred to a wound on Ko Wen-je’s buttocks. She stated that Ko Wen-je told her the prison cell toilet was a sit-down type, and since alcohol was not available at the detention center, “he said he would wipe around the toilet with a tissue before sitting down. Maybe he felt the cleaning wasn’t thorough enough, so he self-diagnosed it as an HPV infection.”
Chen Pei-chi also clarified that it was a “suspected” infection, because this was Ko Wen-je’s own assessment: “He didn’t have a mobile phone at Bei Suo, no way to take photos, nor could he see the wound. He could only feel the lesion by touch, and thought there was a hard lump... Usually, doctors can diagnose visually, and the on-site doctor at Bei Suo didn’t deny his diagnosis.”
HPV is a virus mainly contracted by women, mostly transmitted through sexual contact around the genital area, some strains of which can cause genital warts, commonly known as ‘cauliflower.’
Additionally, Chen Pei-chi questioned the hygiene of the food containers provided at Bei Suo. In her post, she wrote that it’s hard for modern people to imagine how one survives in a nine-square-meter detention cell. Meals are placed in a basin-like container, with all food mixed together, reminiscent of the harsh treatment of ancient prisoners on TV dramas. “The scene is just like when we take food scraps to feed cats or dogs.”
Chen Pei-chi concluded by saying if Ko Wen-je’s wound does not heal over time, she will insist he see a dermatologist, and has already scheduled a full-body health check-up for next week.
According to United Daily News, while Ko Wen-je was detained at Bei Suo, he shared a two-person cell, and the bath and toilet were of the sit-down type. For safety reasons, there was no plastic seat that could be lifted. If the toilet was too dirty or smelled bad, one could request diluted bleach from the authorities for cleaning.
In response to Chen Pei-chi’s post, Bei Suo issued a statement clarifying that all detainees’ meals are provided in accordance with regulations, and depending on the number of diners, eating habits, food hygiene and type, appropriate stainless steel utensils are used for serving.
Ko Wen-je is accused of corruption, breach of trust, and public-interest embezzlement during his term as Taipei mayor in relation to the Jinghua City case and a presidential election political donation case. Prosecutors are seeking a total sentence of 28 and a half years. He has been detained and denied visits since September 2024, and has entered and left Taipei Detention Center three times in one year.
Ko Wen-je and Taipei City Councilor Ying Hsiao-wei, also implicated in the Jinghua City case, were released on bail on September 8, with Ko’s set at NT$70 million (about RM9.82 million) and Ying’s at NT$30 million.