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MND confirms air
force major detained
FILTHY LUCRE? A report said the major was found
to have ‘unclear sources of funds’ in a bank account and has been charged with
breaching the National Security Act
By Rich Chang / Staff reporter
An E-2 Hawkeye takes off from
Siaokang International Airport in Greater Kaohsiung to return to its base in
Pingtung County on March 15.
Photo: Chang Chung-yi, Taipei Times
The Ministry of National Defense yesterday
confirmed a media report that said an air force major has been detained on
suspicion of leaking confidential information gathered from E-2 Hawkeye early
warning aircraft to Chinese nationals.
The Chinese-language United Daily News reported yesterday that an air force
major surnamed Hau (郝), who served in the electronic warfare unit at Pingtung
Air Force Base, allegedly delivered confidential information gathered from the
E-2s to Chinese nationals through a Taiwanese civilian. Hau has been charged
with breaching the National Security Act (國家安全法), the report added.
The ministry said in a press release yesterday that the Taiwan High Prosecutors’
Office’s Greater Kaohsiung branch on Sept. 25 applied to detain Hau, which was
granted.
The military’s security unit became concerned about Hau and referred the case to
prosecutors for further investigation in June, the press release said, adding
that Hau was the only suspect, and that media reports saying more than 10
military personnel were involved were inaccurate.
According to the United Daily News report, prosecutors raided Hau’s office and
residence. They also found “unclear sources of funds” in his bank accounts.
The ministry, citing a gag order because the case is under investigation, said
it would not comment further.
The air force procured four E-2T aircraft from the US in 1995. After adding two
more E-2K planes in 2006, it currently has six Hawkeyes in service. In 2010 two
E-2Ts were upgraded to E-2Ks.
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