The Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei yesterday said that its government did not have any knowledge regarding reported attempts to poach a Taiwanese lieutenant colonel implicated in the Apache helicopter case.
“The government of Israel has no information on the report which appeared in the Taiwanese media on August 22,” Israeli Representative to Taipei Asher Yarden said in a news release.
Chinese-language media reports on Saturday that claimed Israel had tried to recruit army Lieutenant Colonel Lao Nai-cheng (勞乃成) of the 601st Air Cavalry Brigade with a monthly salary of NT$600,000, because it is planning to expand its fleet of Apache helicopters with acquisition of the newer AH-64E model.
Lao is an Apache pilot and instructor.
The Taoyuan District Prosecutors’ Office on Friday said it would not press charges against Lao and 14 other defendants, including several civilians, over civilians gaining access to an off-limits military base in Taoyuan’s Longtan District (龍潭) and one of the newly acquired Apache helicopters based there.
Lao had been under investigation since he took a group of civilians on a tour of the base in March, as well as taking one of the special Apache helmets off base to wear at a party.
The prosecutors said the Taoyuan base had not been categorized as a “vital area” and that the aircraft, helmet and hangar depicted in the photographs taken by one of the suspects, television personality Janet Lee (李蒨蓉), were also not considered classified military information.
The army late on Saturday dismissed the media reports about Israel and Lao as unsubstantiated rumors.
An officer who spoke on condition of anonymity yesterday said that Lao was not upset by the months-long investigation and wanted to stay in Taiwan.
“If the Public Functionary Disciplinary Sanction Commission does not remove Lao from his job, the military will then evaluate whether to let him stay in accordance with its own procedures,” the officer said.
Lao was impeached by the Control Yuan and placed on the army’s discharge list after being given two serious demerits.
He is awaiting disciplinary action from the commission.
As to whether Lao would be allowed to resume flying, the officer said Lao must file an application and then an evaluation committee would make a decision based on criteria such as his physical capability and his recent performance.
Additional reporting by CNA
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