US Navy captain fired in bribery scandal

A US naval commander has been fired over his alleged links to an elaborate bribery scandal that involved prostitutes, luxury travel and multimillion-dollar government contracts, officials said.

Captain Daniel Dusek, commanding officer of the USS Bonhomme Richard based at the port of Sasebo, Japan, was relieved of his duties because of "a loss of confidence in his ability to command", the US Navy said.

Dusek is under investigation by the US Justice Department in a widening scandal that allegedly had a Singapore-based company offering cash, prostitutes and luxury travel in return for contracts to provide support services to naval ships, a military official said.

Although Dusek has not been charged with a crime, his superiors "determined the investigation negatively affected Dusek's leadership ability and was a distraction to the command mission", according to the navy statement.

The Bonhomme Richard, an amphibious assault ship that sailors call the "Bonny Dick", is the flagship of an amphibious ready group for the US Navy's 7th Fleet.

The 40,000-ton warship, which is home to more than 40 attack helicopters, five Harrier jump jets, a V-22 Osprey aircraft, a hovercraft and tanks, visited Hong Kong last month.

Dusek, who had taken command of the warship in June last year and had been decorated for his previous missions, has been temporarily assigned to Expeditionary Strike Group Seven, officials said.