Ko, once a rising political star and presidential candidate in Taiwan, was indicted Thursday on corruption charges.

The 65-year-old is accused of accepting $500,000 in bribes related to real estate deals while he was mayor of Taipei and misreporting campaign finances while running for president in January.

Prosecutors sought a maximum sentence of 28.5 years in prison.

Ke’s prosecution is a major blow to the political movement he represents, which resonates with voters seeking alternatives to the ruling Democratic People’s Party and the main opposition Kuomintang.

Ko, who denies corruption charges, was arrested and detained in September.

Prosecutors said Thursday he was one of 11 people charged. Several other members of his Taiwan People’s Party have also been accused of embezzling political donations.

Dark horses in January’s presidential electionKo won more than 25% of the vote – not far behind the 40% won by ruling party candidate Lai Ching-te.

Observers said at the time that although Ko ranked last among the three presidential candidates, his strong performance showed that voters were demanding a more diverse political landscape beyond the two main parties.

Cohn has made a name for himself by positioning himself as a third choice to the two main parties. He criticized the DPP for fomenting tensions with Beijing, which considers the self-governing island its own territory, but he also accused the KMT of being too deferential.

Ko was elected mayor of Taipei as an independent candidate after supporting protesters during the anti-Beijing Sunflower Movement in 2014.

He won a second term in 2018 but appears to have shifted his political views and expanded Taipei’s ties with mainland China.

Long regarded as a wildcard in Taiwanese politicsKe Wenwei has attracted controversy for his arrogant rhetoric and outlandish campaign ideas. He has been described as a “gaffe machine” and starred in a rap video while running for re-election in 2018.

After losing the presidential election, he vowed not to give up his political career and is expected to run for president again in 2028. But it remains to be seen whether his party can recover from the wave of prosecutions.

Ke’s arrest sparked protests from his allies and supporters, who accused the DPP of using the charges to suppress opposition.