The Ministry of National Defense (MND) yesterday dismissed allegations that high-ranking military personnel had been promoted in return for bribes under President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration.
Minister of National Defense Chen Chao-min (陳肇敏) said that every promotion “since Ma took office” had been made according to regulations.
“Since the president took the oath of office, the Ministry of National Defense has promoted military personnel in accordance with the rules,” Chen said.
Chen’s remarks followed a story in yesterday’s Chinese-language Apple Daily about a general who allegedly paid bribes and was promoted by Ma.
The MND also issued a press release that said that although the general, who was not named, was promoted on July 1, the decision to promote him was made before Ma took office.
“These people, including the general in the story, were promoted prior to the president taking the oath of office,” the press release said.
The minister said the MND would work with prosecutors to investigate whether anyone had secured a promotion through bribery.
“Please do not question our determination to find out the truth,” Chen said.
Retired colonel Kong Ling-min (孔令民), formerly in charge of military personnel affairs, told the Apple Daily that he was shocked to see the name of the general among those to be promoted last summer.
Kong said that he had once been approached by an MND officer regarding the possibility of paying a bribe in return for a promotion.
Kong declined to say who had asked him for a bribe, saying only that he had not considered paying the kickback.
The Presidential Office said yesterday that the majority of promotions of military personnel thus far under Ma’s administration were finalized under the former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government.
Presidential Office Spokesman Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) said Ma had attended two promotion ceremonies for military personnel since taking office last May, but that his role had been ceremonial because he had not had a say in selecting the candidates.
Wang said that the Presidential Office would cooperate with any investigation by the judiciary or Control Yuan.
Meanwhile, prosecutors investigating the allegations said yesterday that they would begin their probe by focusing on around 30 generals promoted by former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).
However, hundreds of other lieutenant generals and major generals promoted during his eight-year presidency would also be investigated, it said.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY KO SHU-LING AND AFP
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