2 sailors to be punished in sex scandal: Source

WASHINGTON (AP) - Two US sailors are expected to receive administrative punishments, but not be criminally charged, in connection with the prostitution scandal that engulfed US Secret Service and military members preparing for a presidential visit to Colombia earlier this year, a senior military official said on Friday.

The two sailors will be punished for hiring a prostitute and dereliction of duty for drinking within eight hours of the time they had to report for duty, the official said.

More than six months after the scandal erupted, and lengthy efforts to identify and locate witnesses and others involved, the two sailors were expected to be the final military members disciplined in the case.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorised to disclose sensitive legal developments.