Former Army Corps commander indicted on corruption charges
ROC Central News Agency
2007-10-15 18:49:52
Taipei, Oct. 15 (CNA) A former commander of the 6th Army Corps in northern Taiwan has been indicted on charges of corruption, Vice Minister of National Defense Ko Cheng-en confirmed Monday.
Questioned by reporters about a front-page report on the indictment carried by the local daily the China Times, Ko said the Ministry of National Defense respects the military prosecutors' decision to ask the Military High Court to impose a 16-year sentence on Lt. Gen. Cheng Shih-yu for embezzling NT$1.34 million in public funds.
The sentence being sought for Cheng is the harshest ever for any ranking military official in Taiwan charged with corruption. Cheng is also the highest-ranking military officer to be indicted in recent years.
Ko urged the public not to allow an "isolated case" to offset the contributions made by the great majority of the armed forces' personnel.
He also denied speculation that Cheng's prosecution might have something to do with a power struggle among the top military brass.
Cheng has been in custody since July 20 pending the completion of an investigation into charges that he embezzled NT$1.34 million (US$41,090) of his administrative funds between late 2006 and July this year while he served as commander of the 6th Army Corps.
According to the China Times report, the military prosecutors asked for a 16-year sentence rather than the minimum seven years in prison because he did not confess to the crime and remained "unrepentant."
Previous reports by other news media said that Cheng remitted NT$150,000 of his administrative fund every month to a 39-year-old mistress while he served as commander of the 6th Army Corps.
(By Han Nai-kuo)
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