The Ministry of National Defense said yesterday that 17 personnel from Reserve Forces Command Headquarters’ 907 Brigade had been punished after a ribald video was distributed on the Internet.
The announcement came after a cable news channel aired a video earlier this month showing two soldiers wearing camouflage apparently engaging in oral sex while about 40 servicemen looked on and laughed.
“Our investigation revealed that this incident took place in Kuantien Township, Tainan County, three years ago during a recess period,” Chang Shan-tung (張善東), director of the Military Discipline and Internal Affairs Department, told a press conference at ministry headquarters yesterday morning.
Chang said the military began its investigation after the video was made public by local media on July 15. One of the individuals involved confessed to an investigator, he said.
Chang said the incident happened around noon on May 17, 2006, while a group of soldiers from Brigade 907, who were being trained to be squad chiefs, were taking a rest during a training course.
A total of 17 individuals, including the four main characters in the video, the former brigadier, his deputy and other officials at the center have received demerits.
Military prosecutors also launched an investigation agaionst a lieutenant who allegedly let them use his cellphone to shoot the video before posting it on the Internet.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY AFP
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