TAIPEI: Seventeen Taiwanese servicemen have been disciplined over an obscene video that sparked a public outrage. The video tape showed two male sergeants apparently engaged in oral sex while on duty, while about 40 other servicemen looked on and laughed.

A cable news channel aired the video earlier this month. The "defence ministry" has disciplined 13 members of the reserve brigade and sent another four to prosecutors for involvement in public obscenity and spreading an obscene image, said a statement released by the "ministry".

Those facing prosecution included the duo allegedly engaged in the act and another sergeant who taped the scene, as well as the captain of their squad.

The 13 were disciplined for "failing to prevent a major incident from happening to damage the military honor," the statement said.

The incident happened three years ago during a training course in southern Tainan county, according to the "ministry", adding five of the 17 have since retired from the military.

The sex video was the latest in a series of scandals to hit Taiwan's military and forced it to apologise amid heated criticism from both the ruling and opposition parties.

A recent crackdown has led to the investigation of 114 generals for alleged corruption, including paying bribes to obtain promotion. The probe, one of the biggest in the history of Taiwan's armed forces, was launched in April after a retired lieutenant general was indicted on charges of bribery, blackmail and leaking secrets.

AFP

(HK Edition 07/29/2009 page2)