Three officers indicted in Taiwan's fatal missile misfire

TAIPEI -- A petty officer surnamed Kao has been charged with negligent homicide in a case involving a Taiwan military missile misfire on July 1, Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office said Monday.

A chief petty officer who supervised Kao, and an officer responsible for the ship's weapon systems have been indicted for dereliction of duty, according to prosecutors.

The missile was erroneously launched from a corvette battleship in Zuoying Harbor in Kaohsiung, island authorities said. It fell into the waters off Penghu Island after hitting a fishing boat, killing the captain and injuring three of the crew.

Island authorities blamed the misfire on failure of personnel to follow procedures during a test.