Army commander apologizes over corporal's death
ROC Central News Agency
2013/07/17 22:45:19
Taipei, July 17 (CNA) Army Commander General Lee Hsiang-chou bowed and apologized Wednesday at a press conference over the death of Army corporal Hung Chung-chiu from heatstroke.
Hung died July 4 as a result of harsh punishment for taking a smartphone onto his army base without permission.
Lee promised to get to the bottom of the case, saying that the military is not an underworld organization and the Army will not tolerate gang-like behavior.
Lee said he will take full responsibility for the case and will punish those involved in bullying in the military.
'We certainly will not tolerate rascals in our Army,' Lee said. He said Hung's mother perhaps has forgiven the perpetrators, 'but our Army will absolutely not let go.'
He also vowed to find out the truth about Hung's death.
'No truth, no forgiveness,' Lee added.
The sergeants' evaluation committee decided to send Hung to solitary confinement on June 25 as punishment for taking a smartphone onto his army base, according to Army officer Chuang Hui-an.
Recruits are banned from bringing camera-equipped cellphones onto Taiwanese military bases for security reasons. Chuang was responding to speculations that Hung had been punished for making outspoken remarks on June 26 at a forum for conscripts who were scheduled to be discharged in July.
Hung, a conscript serving in the army's 542nd Armored Brigade in Hsinchu, northern Taiwan, was sent to the 269th Brigade in Taoyuan for disciplinary action June 28 and died two days before completing his 20-month military service.
Regarding reports of the disappearance of an 80-minute surveillance video footage of Hung in the cell of the 269th Brigade on July 1, Chuang said the evidence was sent to the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau for certification.
(By Rogge Chen, Kelvin Huang and Y.L. Kao)
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