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Twin brothers trade places at military installation

Twin brothers collaborated to cheat the army when one posed as his conscripted brother, local Chinese-language newspapers reported yesterday.

Shen Ming-chin (沈明進) and Shen Huang-hsiang (沈煌翔), 23, from Chiayi County, are described as identical, except for a small difference in their accents and Ming-chin’s inability to fully raise his left arm because of a childhood injury, the reports said.

Ming-chin wanted to join the army but failed the physical examination, while Huang-hsiang hated military service but was conscripted, as are all Taiwanese men unless they are rejected for medical reasons.

Last September, Huang-hsiang joined the army. But in January, after completing his scheduled leave, Huang-hsiang remained at home while the unemployed Ming-chin went to his brother’s barracks posing as Huang-hsiang.

The officers and soldiers sensed there was something strange about “Huang-hsiang,” but could not figure out what it was.

This went on for four months. Because Huang-hsiang had already deserted the army once, army counselors talked to him regularly to make sure he did not flee again. This made Ming-chin fear that the army had cottoned on to his ruse.

In January, Huang-hsiang and Ming-chin traded places again. But his long absence meant that Huang-hsiang’s behavior aroused the suspicion of an officer, who went to the Shens’ home to investigate and learned of his twin brother.

On Tuesday, Shen Ming-chin was charged with document forgery and Shen Huang-hsiang with desertion, the reports said. Shen Huang-hsiang faces a court-martial, but military prosecutors suggested giving Shen Ming-chin a suspended sentence because he has no criminal record.
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