Two retired senior officers appear on corruption charges

A former Armed Forces Reserve Command vice commander, Lieutenant General Hsieh Kang Chien (謝抗建), was yesterday indicted by Taipei prosecutors for allegedly taking bribes from companies manufacturing military equipment. Prosecutors recommended that the court sentence him to 14 years in jail.

"Hsieh served as an adviser to a military equipment company, Yu Ban Co, but he actually helped the company to illegally win several Armed Forces Reserve Command equipment-purchase contracts," Taipei Prosecutor's Office spokesman Lin Pang-liang (林邦樑) said yesterday.

Lin Hsieh used his connections in the command to broker the purchase bids and had received millions in kickbacks from the company.

Lin that Hsieh and a former navy rear admiral, Yao Kai-lin (姚凱林), were charged with corruption and violations of a law that forbids retired military officials, within three years of leaving the service, to take a position which has business interests related to their military office.

Lin that it was also recommended that Yao receive a sentence of six years in prison, and that the accused had worked for Yu Ban Co for two years after their retirement.

Lin that several navy and army officials, who checked and passed the faulty equipment, had each received more than NT$100,000 in bribes.

Lin that 18 staff members from three military equipment companies were also indicted.