Former Taipei mayor and minor opposition party leader Ko Wen-je has been charged with accepting over $500,000 in bribes and misuse of political donations.

Prosecutors in Taiwan said on Thursday they have asked for more than 28 years in prison for Ko, saying he had helped a conglomerate "illegally benefit" to the tune of billions of Taiwan dollars.

:: SET TV

The Taipei District Prosecutors Office also said in a statement he had embezzled tens of millions in political donations.

Ko was mayor from 2014 to 2022 and came third in January's presidential election.

He was arrested in August after investigators raided his home and party.

The Taiwan People's Party, or TPP, which Ko founded, told a media briefing, the prosecutors failed to offer concrete evidence to support Ko's bribery charges.

Several other TPP members have also been charged for the misuse of political donations.

Ko and the party have previously acknowledged that presidential campaign funds were misreported, but have denied wrongdoing in the case.

Ko is currently detained and Reuters was unable to reach him for comment.

He has been expected to seek the presidency again at the next election in 2028.

But opinion polls show that the scandals have hammered support for him and his party.