The Control Yuan decided yesterday to impeach three former high-ranking officers over irregularities in the purchase of six Lafayette-class frigates from France 10 years ago. The three to be impeached are former navy commander-in-chief Yeh Chang-tung (
A move to impeach ex-chief of the general staff Hau Pei-tsun (
"This is not going to be the end of the case. More shock waves will be coming in the future," Kang said yesterday at a press conference.
The conference followed six hours of deliberation by an 11-member committee of Control Yuan members formed to decide on possible impeachment of those involved in the Lafayette case based on the investigative committee's report.
The impeachment proposal against Hau was voted down by the committee, eight votes to three.
Kang declined to explain why the committee has not supported his suggested impeachment of Hau, but he hinted that his investigative team might try to have a second vote cast on the issue.
"We will rest first and then think about whether to apply for a second vote on the proposed impeachment against Hau," Kang said.
According to Control Yuan regulations, a second vote on suggested impeachment against a current or retired government official has to be done by Yuan members who did not participate in the first vote.
Kang suggested that the impeachment net might be widened in the future even though Hau managed to slip though the mesh this time.
"Our impeachment this time only touched on those who were directly involved with the Lafayette purchase. It did not cover decision-makers or military staff [otherwise] responsible for the process," Kang said.
Kang expressed regret in failing to put decision-makers or responsible military staff on the discipline list.
"The biggest problem ... in the case is that some military personnel failed to carry out the policy of the navy with regard to weapons purchases," Kang said.
Quoting a report by ex-chief of the general staff Lo Pen-li (
The policy at the time called for the purchase of lighter ships to complement the existing fleet.
Chao Lung-yao (
Chao said that the team had proposed the impeachment of Hau mainly because he failed to execute the procurement policy he himself had put in place, and also because he failed to notify then-president Lee Teng-hui (
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