The National Audit Office has reported procurement irregularities and possible graft involving the Army Command Headquarters procurement program, with discrepancies found in the quantity of tactical gear purchased for soldiers and items not meeting the required specifications.
According to the results of an investigation released this week, protective vests purchased did not have the anti-infrared functions that were stipulated in the procurement tender.
The anti-infrared feature of the vests helps soldiers conduct nighttime stealth missions by enabling to them avoid detection by infrared cameras and thermal imaging devices.
The agency also found items had disappeared, with 46 protective vests and 25 helmets missing when Army Command Headquarters handed over the newly purchased items to army units.
According to the agency’s report, the irregularities and questionable items were from last year’s NT$1.27 billion (US$39.12 million) army procurement program, which bought tactical gear for soldiers, patrol boats and mast-mounted sight systems for the nation’s Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters.
The report put the losses at about NT$1.67 million for the missing protective vests and helmets.
The report also said that all the items in the package — purchased from abroad — failed to contain warranties.
The report said only 68 percent of mast-mounted sight systems on the nation’s Bell OH-58D helicopters are rated as in good working order, which is less than the 78 percent standard mandated by the Ministry of Defense.
In recent years, Washington has said the US is no longer able to provide maintenance and repair services.
“The Ministry of Defense cannot even verify the quantities and qualitiy of the items procured. It seems military officials and businessmen colluded to make illegal profits. I urge prosecutors to investigate,” Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chiu Chih-wei (邱志偉) said.
“This is not a single case. There have been many scandals related to military procurement in recent years,” Chiu added. “These scandals have jeopardized national security and the lives of our soldiers. The Ministry of Defense must undertake a thorough review of this issue.”
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