Clouded Leopard armored vehicle
3 September 2020
A major general and three associates were indicted on 2 September 2020 for forging a fire extinguishing project for armored vehicles, allowing them to take US$1.02 million in bonuses.
An automatic fire extinguishing systems (AFES) is used in military ground vehicles to protect the crew from hazards such as improvised explosive device (IED) threats and fuel explosions.
In Taiwanese army only when the project size exceeds a certain limit the officers are entitled to bonus. In 2015, Major General Chu Chien-chun was entrusted with the development of an automatic fire extinguishing system for the Clouded Leopard armored vehicle. He found that the project size was too small for any bonus. He then ordered three other officers to forge documents to show unfinished systems as completed. New Taipei District Prosecutors Office reported.
A whistle blower told the authorities about the scheme. Investigation that followed found that the Major General was the culprit behind the scheme. All four officers have been relieved of their current duties due to the indictments, cable station TVBS reported.
