The prosecutors' office of the military high court yesterday announced it has dismissed criminal charges against an officer for his role in a housing controversy involving former defense minister Wu Shih-wen (
Major Chang Cheng-chin (
Liao made the announcement at the Ministry of National Defense's regular weekly press conference.
"We found that although Chang filled out the application form for Wu, he did not intend to provide incorrect information. He has thus been cleared of criminal charges," Liao said.
"What is left is administrative punishments against officials for failing to prevent such a mistake from happening," he said.
The decision marked an end to a months-long controversy over Chang's responsibility for an application form for a military-housing unit that he filled out on behalf of Wu when he worked in the office of the deputy defense minister in 1999 when Wu was deputy minister.
Last month, Chang made headlines by accusing former superiors of trying to make him a scapegoat over the incorrect information on the application form.
Chang's accusation embarrassed the defense ministry and challenged the military tradition that no member should make public statements without authorization from higher authorities.
The controversy erupted after a DPP lawmaker alleged last October that an apartment complex the ministry was to build in downtown Taipei for senior defense officials was meant to favor certain people, such as Wu.
After the lawmaker made the allegations, it was discovered that Wu's application for a unit of the building did not provide a true account of his financial status.
The form claimed Wu did not own any homes, which would help him qualify for an apartment.
The ministry initially tried to play down the allegations and the uproar over Wu's application by saying that the mistake was due to an administrative error.
However, military prosecutors later had to launch an investigation since none of Wu's former staff officers was willing to admit to making the error.
Chang was sent for investigation by military prosecutors last November on charges of forgery after initial examinations indicated the handwriting in the application form matched his.
Chang insisted that he was not involved in providing the incorrect data.
Chang contacted a Chinese-language newspaper last month and accused his former superiors -- including Rear Admiral Chang Chun-wei (張駿維) -- of providing him with the wrong information. The admiral had been the chief of the defense minister's office at the time.
Chang also accused Wu of trying to exert pressure on him by using officials such as the admiral.
Wu, however, has denied the accusations.
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