By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter


The Defense Ministry yesterday dismissed three majors from their posts as military prosecutors for damaging military discipline by tendering resignations in protest of what they call the ``uncooperative’’ ministry’s attitude on their probe into the Army promotion scandal.

``A six-member committee of the ministry has decided to dismiss the three prosecutors from their positions,’’ Shin Hyun-don, the ministry’s spokesman, told reporters. ``The dismissed investigators will be subject to disciplinary procedures according to related laws and regulations.’’

Shin further said the military prosecution will continue its probe apart from the dismissal fuss by adding five or six investigators in the prosecution team. The new prosecutors will probably be announced today, according to Shin.

``I’m very sorry for young investigators’ violation of military rules though I respect their passion to dig into the Army promotion scandal,’’ Yoon Kwang-ung was quoted as saying by Shin.

The ministry’s move was well expected as it said last Saturday that it will strictly punish them after the investigators expressed their intention to resign in protest of the ministry’s attitude toward the investigation.

The military prosecutors, meanwhile, leaked to Rep. Choi Jae-cheon of the ruling Uri Party that Army Chief of Staff Gen. Nam Jae-joon was involved in the irregularities in the Army’s shakeup of its top brass in September.

Choi said the investigators found the personnel office of the Army headquarters had regularly reported the results of its promotion screening process to the Army chief of staff.

The military prosecutors’ revelation was construed as another bout of strong protest against the ministry given that President Roh Moo-hyun warned last Wednesday the prosecutors should not leak any result of the probe to the press in a bid to drive the public opinion in their favor.

Tendering their resignations last Friday, the three military prosecutors claimed that the ministry unfairly refused their request on issuance of arrest warrant for a brigadier general.

Defense Minister Yoon rejected the arrest warrant, saying it could violate the general’s human rights. He ordered prosecutors to conduct a complementary investigation into the case.

Late last month, Gen. Nam offered to resign, holding himself responsible for the promotion scandal, but President Roh turned down the resignation offer.

The probe was initially launched on Nov. 12 when a government official reported allegations concerning the promotion of ``unqualified’’ colonels to the military prosecution.

yoonwonsup@koreatimes.co.kr