Admiral takes early retirement

Washington - A US Navy admiral agreed to retire early at a reduced pension and to 30 days of house arrest after being found guilty…

Washington - A US Navy admiral agreed to retire early at a reduced pension and to 30 days of house arrest after being found guilty of improperly steering military contracts to his lover in an adulterous affair, the navy said yesterday. Rear Admiral John Scudi (54) accepted the finding of guilty to seven charges at a three-hour navy hearing at Norfolk, Virginia, on Wednesday. He thus avoided a more serious military court martial and possible long imprisonment, Navy officials said.

"This is a significant punishment," Lieut Cmdr Mark McDonald, a spokesman at Atlantic Fleet headquarters in Norfolk, said.