PHUKET: The multi-million dollar ''Fat Leonard'' bribes scandal in which Phuket is embroiled has caused so many officers' careers to be placed on-hold that it's taking a toll on the US Navy's leadership, sources say.
More than 30 officers remain under investigation as the long probe continues, and the hold placed on the careers of so many Navy personnel means the service's regular system is stagnating.
Usually officers rotate jobs every 18 months to 36 months but because of the Department of Justice investigation of Glenn Defense Marine Asia and its CEO Leonard Glenn Francis, many officers remain suspended or in place but with their normal authority on-hold.
''As officers move up the pyramid, fewer and fewer jobs are available, and only a few blockages can have ripple effects far beyond that specific position,'' reports defensenews.com.
''The situation is affecting Navy commands ashore and afloat, across the globe.''
A number of officers were planning to retire over the past year or more, but are being held over pending the results of the investigation.
''It becomes a lot more complicated to deal with folks once they're outside the military," said the defense official. ''The ability to handle it is a lot easier keeping them in uniform.''
The Justice Department is not sharing many details of its investigation with the Navy, defensenews.com reports, and the service is not clear precisely how many officers are under scrutiny.
The investigation goes back nearly a decade but only with the arrest of Francis on a visit to the US in November 2013 did it become public knowledge.
The Glenn brand was familiar to many on Phuket whenever US vessels, especially aircraft carriers, anchored off Thailand's top holiday island so crews could take liberty leave.
Glenn organised what's known as ''husbandry'' for the vessels, restocking supplies and providing shuttle transport between Phuket's deep sea port and Patong, on the west coast.
It's alleged Leonard bribed US Navy officers to learn details of warship movements and manipulate them to Phuket and Port Klang in Malaysia, the destinations where, it's claimed, massive overbilling could most easily be achieved.
According to defensenews.com: ''It appears an individual doesn't necessarily have to be accused of wrongdoing to trigger an investigation into their behavior, defense officials said. Rather, simply having dealings with GDMA could start a probe.''
More than 30 officers remain under investigation as the long probe continues, and the hold placed on the careers of so many Navy personnel means the service's regular system is stagnating.
Usually officers rotate jobs every 18 months to 36 months but because of the Department of Justice investigation of Glenn Defense Marine Asia and its CEO Leonard Glenn Francis, many officers remain suspended or in place but with their normal authority on-hold.
''As officers move up the pyramid, fewer and fewer jobs are available, and only a few blockages can have ripple effects far beyond that specific position,'' reports defensenews.com.
''The situation is affecting Navy commands ashore and afloat, across the globe.''
A number of officers were planning to retire over the past year or more, but are being held over pending the results of the investigation.
''It becomes a lot more complicated to deal with folks once they're outside the military," said the defense official. ''The ability to handle it is a lot easier keeping them in uniform.''
The Justice Department is not sharing many details of its investigation with the Navy, defensenews.com reports, and the service is not clear precisely how many officers are under scrutiny.
The investigation goes back nearly a decade but only with the arrest of Francis on a visit to the US in November 2013 did it become public knowledge.
The Glenn brand was familiar to many on Phuket whenever US vessels, especially aircraft carriers, anchored off Thailand's top holiday island so crews could take liberty leave.
Glenn organised what's known as ''husbandry'' for the vessels, restocking supplies and providing shuttle transport between Phuket's deep sea port and Patong, on the west coast.
It's alleged Leonard bribed US Navy officers to learn details of warship movements and manipulate them to Phuket and Port Klang in Malaysia, the destinations where, it's claimed, massive overbilling could most easily be achieved.
According to defensenews.com: ''It appears an individual doesn't necessarily have to be accused of wrongdoing to trigger an investigation into their behavior, defense officials said. Rather, simply having dealings with GDMA could start a probe.''
