A joint investigation team of prosecutors, soldiers, and government officials was launched Friday to root out corruption in the country's defense industry, prosecutors said.
The move comes amid growing allegations of bribery and other underhand dealings between military officials and defense firms, as well as cozy relations between the arms procurement agency and retired service personnel at private defense companies.
The special team -- composed of 105 prosecutors, military prosecutors, police and other related government agency officials -- will conduct investigations into irregularities involving defense contractors, they said.
"Corruption in the defense industry is a chronic illness that not only brings losses to the state coffers but also weakens the national defense," said a prosecutor at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.