Former Taiwanese army colonel jailed for corruption

A former army colonel has been given a 15 year jail sentence for corruption offences, according to the Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA).

Yang Tung-shan, an officer with the Construction and Facility Division under the Ministry of National Defence's Armaments Bureau, was tried at the country's Military High Court and sentenced this week after a lengthy investigation and trail, said the report.

The charges related to "taking bribes and receiving illegal gains" from private suppliers in 2006, which included all-expenses paid trips to Malaysia and Japan for Mr Yang and his wife.

Mr Yang was also charged with accepting payment for the renovation of his home, with some of the money being transferred directly into his wife's bank account.

The suppliers, who were not named in the report, were also found to have given Mr and Mrs Yang cash kickbacks and electronic items in exchange for help in winning military contracts.

Mr Yang also had his political rights revoked for 10 years and was ordered to pay NT$ 1.95 million (US$ 59451) in cash and forfeit NT$ 210000 (US$ 6365) worth of electronic goods allegedly received in bribes.