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Defense minister says sorry for officers’ behavior

Minister of National Defense Chen Chao-min (陳肇敏) yesterday apologized over media reports alleging that several military officers were involved in a loan shark ring.

“I am sorry for what has happened,” Chen said, while confirming that the reports were “true” when asked for comments outside the Legislative Yuan yesterday.

Media reports said that Taichung district prosecutors, Taichung County police and criminal investigators busted a loan shark ring on Thursday and found that four military officers were employed to bully debtors who were unable to repay their loans.

HIGH RATES

The four military officers are suspected not only of serving as enforcers in a loan shark ring headed by 35-year-old Wang Hsien-hsuan (王銜萱), but also of raising NT$25 million (US$777,000) in funds by extending loans to their colleagues in the military and civilians at exorbitant rates.

The military officers implicated in the case are Army lieutenants Chen Yi-heng (陳奕亨), Liu Chung-yi (劉仲怡) and Ko Hung-san (柯宏森), as well as Coast Guard Administration officer Lee Bing-yen (李秉彥), the reports said.

DISCIPLINE

The defense minister said that strengthening military discipline was one of his major goals and promised to reinforce discipline and emphasize moral education among troops.

The ministry confirmed in a statement yesterday that the four suspects served as chief psychological counselors tasked with helping military personnel at their respective units.

Additional reporting by Shih Hsiu-chuan and Jimmy Chuang
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