Defense ministry releases investigative report on corruption
ROC Central News Agency
2009/07/08 15:30:33
By Deborah Kuo
Taipei, July 8 (CNA) The Ministry of Defense released an investigative report on internal corruption Wednesday, revealing that that 142 military personnel were suspected of being engaged in corruption or bribe-taking.
The 142 military personnel involved in 48 cases will be referred to the Military High Court for further investigation, said Defense Minister Chen Chao-min.
Of the 142 likely to be charged, 114 were generals and 26 were of field officer level, Chen said.
Of the 48 cases, 29 involved buying promotions during former President Chen Shui-bian's administration and 19 cases involved corruption scandals.
The defense minister said that through these numbers, his agency is demonstrating its determination to crack down on corruption, root out illegal behavior and clean its own house.
The report was issued in response to a request made by President Ma Ying-jeou in April that the military investigate its personnel and issue a report on its probe within three months.
Ma issued the directive after the emergence of a string of embarrassing corruption scandals and irregularities that tarnished the military's image.
The investigative report, however, did not impress lawmakers.
"The report is irresponsible. It's nothing but a few figures, " criticized ruling Kuomintang Legislator Lo Shu-lei, after viewing the report that was only five pages long, included a press release and an open letter from the defense minister.
According to local media reports in April, members of the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office were investigating some 30 generals promoted by former President Chen Shui-bian, who left office last May after serving two terms from 2000 to 2008.
The reports said prosecutors will also investigate several hundred lieutenants and major generals promoted under Chen's presidency.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
