The military yesterday said that a marine lieutenant-colonel surnamed Chuang (莊) was being charged with allegedly using his smartphone to record sexual encounters with a number of women without their knowledge.
The case came to light because Chuang, 39, allegedly tried to blackmail one woman who wanted to terminate their relationship, threatening to post footage of the two of them engaging in sexual activity online.
The case was examined by investigators from the military and the Pingtung District Prosecutors’ Office.
Chuang was stationed at the Three Services Joint Training Base in Pingtung County, a major combat training ground in southern Taiwan for troops and armored units where live-fire exercises are carried out.
Media reports allege that the senior marine officer had six victims, including two female military personnel. Chuang allegedly videotaped his sexual encounters, which took place either in his officers’ dormitory bedroom at the base or at motels, using his smartphone or with a hidden camera lens.
The Marine Corps Command Headquarters issued a statement yesterday and declaring the findings of the investigation. It said Chuang had admitted to having sexual relations with several women, adding he had received three major demerits and had been dismissed from his duties, in accordance with the Act of Punishment of the Armed Forces (陸海空軍懲罰法).
“Chuang has engaged in ‘improper relations between male and female [personnel]’ and has thus violated Military Information Communication Security Regulations, and has done serious harm to the military’s public image,” the statement said.
The case is currently under judicial process at Pingtung District Prosecutors’ Office and Chuang has been charged on offenses against privacy for the secret videotaping of women and on blackmail threats.
Chuang allegedly used his authority as a senior officer to put female subordinates into vulnerable situations and then persuaded them to have sex.
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