According to reports by the United News Network and other Taiwanese media on October 7, Taoyuan prosecutors cracked down on the gang’s arsenal in March last year and found a large number of military products in active service, including Stinger missile launchers, it was found that the 66th Brigade of Taiwan Marine Corps was suspected of stealing and selling military products. Taoyuan District Attorney’s office is investigating the case and has charged a captain, three non-commissioned officers and a civilian with five counts under the corruption and Crimes Ordinance.
Taiwanese marines shoulder a stinger missile launcher as they prepare to fire.
The report said that the Taoyuan District Attorney’s Office directed the Taoyuan City Investigation Department and other units to search a residence in Kuishan District of Taoyuan City on March 22 last year, more than 7,000 rounds of standard ammunition such as 5.56 rifles and 0.38 bullets, as well as many items such as hand grenades for training, produced by“205 Arsenal” were seized on the spot. The Taiwanese military verified that they were all military products.
A follow-up investigation revealed that the seized boxes of moisture-proof ammunition, CV105 combat vests and military rations and other military products were purchased at a military flea market. Through tracing the source and checking the batch number, the Taiwan authorities found that the military products were suspected to have been exported from the 66th Brigade of the Taiwan Marine Corps in Kameyama, Taoyuan. After in-depth investigation, a Captain Intelligence Officer, a Chief Petty Officer and two sergeants were found to be highly suspicious.
Taiwan’s“Central News Agency” said that a large number of military products in active service also include“Stinger” missile launchers. After the incident, Taiwan’s Marine Corps Command issued a press release saying that, the investigation did have a double-loaded in 2009, “Stinger” missile firing after the barrel is missing, will cooperate with the prosecution to clarify the investigation.
The report said that the investigation unit and the military found that the related items were leaked from the 66th Marine Brigade. On October 23 last year, the Marine 66th Brigade and related units were searched in multiple ways, captain Wang, Wang, Qiu and Tan were detained for questioning. After questioning, Captain Wang and Sergeant Wang were taken into custody. The Defense Department dismissed or dismissed three of the officers.
The investigation also found that the man, surnamed Xiong, who had acquired military equipment and products exported from Taiwan, had served on the Taiwan Navy’s AP-523 Wan’an warship, LCC-1 Kaohsiung warship, LSD-191 Zhongzheng Warship, Naval Rescue Unit, DDG-1802 Su-ao warship, he retired in 2010 and is now Chief Executive of an education centre in New Taipei City authorised by the Toy Gun Association.
The report said that the Taoyuan District Attorney’s office recently concluded its investigation and found that the four soldiers had committed crimes such as“Embezzlement of military goods other than military weapons or ammunition” and“Embezzlement of public property”, in accordance with the“Embezzlement and punishment of crimes ordinance”, “Theft of public property” criminal suspect prosecution. The man surnamed Xiong, who bought weapons and military products from abroad, was charged with“Stealing public property”, “Buying stolen goods” and“Receiving stolen goods” in accordance with the“Embezzlement and punishment regulations”.
The China Time News Network previously reported that the 66th Brigade of the Taiwan Marine Corps claimed to be the“Most elite” unit of the Taiwan Army, and that before it was exposed that the soldiers had stolen and sold military products, there was a major military discipline incident that was beyond the bounds of reason, there was a married artillery battalion commander extramarital affair, after dating a female friend, let the other party pregnant forced abortion, and finally was expelled from the two major demerits, “The Navy seems to be tightening the screws on the Marine Corps.”.