Errant SAF Officer LTA X has been Fined. Case Closed.
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I knew it ! I knew it !
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Aug 9, 2007
SAF officer cited in e-mail by PM's son fined
By Selina Lum
AN ERRANT Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) officer, the subject of a complaint letter written by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's son Li Hongyi, has been fined. This brings to a close the much-talked-about case that set the Internet abuzz last month.
Second Lieutenant Li, a national serviceman, had earlier been formally charged and reprimanded for broadcasting his e-mail beyond the military chain of command.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, the Defence Ministry confirmed yesterday that the officer whom 2nd Lt Li blew the whistle on has been fined $2,500 after a General Court Martial (GCM) on July 27.
Colonel Benedict Lim, director of public affairs at Mindef, said that the officer had pleaded guilty to being absent from his place of duty on two occasions and for conduct unbecoming of a serviceman.
Col Lim did not identify the officer, nor were any further details given of the offences. But 2nd Lt Li's e-mail stated that he was a regular holding the rank of lieutenant.
Under the Singapore Armed Forces Act, a court martial can result in a range of penalties. These include imprisonment, discharge from service, detention in the SAF detention barracks, a reduction in rank, forfeiture of seniority, a fine or a reprimand.
Col Lim said that the hearing was held in open court at the SAF Court Martial Centre at Kranji Camp. No further details were available.
GCMs decide on cases independently from the chain of command, said Col Lim. They are generally presided over by a national service (NS) officer who is a district judge in the Subordinate Courts - in this case, Lieutenant-Colonel (NS) Aedit Abdullah.
On June 28, 2nd Lt Li sent an e-mail, complaining about his fellow officer's misconduct, to top military brass and the Defence Minister. It was also copied to numerous other military personnel.
In the 2,000-word missive, 2nd Lt Li detailed the circumstances of how the lieutenant had gone absent without official leave on at least two occasions.
He wrote that he had reported the matter to his superiors, but no disciplinary action had been taken.
He questioned the 'quality control' in the process by which officers were selected and described the lieutenant's continued service as 'an embarrassment'.
The letter found its way into blogs and online forums, setting off much chatter among netizens. -
I thought absent without leave (AWOL) is an offence punishable by detention barracks (DB).
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Another white horse, perhaps.Originally posted by maurizio13:I thought absent without leave (AWOL) is an offence punishable by detention barracks (DB).
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just a reprimand for not going through the chain of command.
if anyone else did it i am sure he would be in detention. -
That's the maximum punishment.Originally posted by maurizio13:I thought absent without leave (AWOL) is an offence punishable by detention barracks (DB). -
i'm quite surprised that the officer who went awol only got a 2.5k fine espeiclaly afetr this case has gone public.
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I know alot of ah bengs mostly all get DB for AWOL.Originally posted by LazerLordz:That's the maximum punishment.
Maybe it's because they are ah bengs not white horse or officers. -
If really another white horse, 2.5K fine is like they say one extremely extremely fragmented grain of peanut.Originally posted by stellazio:i'm quite surprised that the officer who went awol only got a 2.5k fine espeiclaly afetr this case has gone public. -
I just checked the SAF Act (Chapter 295)Originally posted by LazerLordz:That's the maximum punishment.
Absence without leave
22. —(1) Every person subject to military law who is absent without leave from service in the Singapore Armed Forces or from the place where he is lawfully required for the time being to be shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction by a subordinate military court to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or any less punishment authorised by this Act.
(2) It shall be a defence for any person charged under this section to prove that his absence was a result of circumstances over which he had no control. -
Originally posted by maurizio13:
"or any less punishment authorised by this Act."
I just checked the SAF Act (Chapter 295)
Absence without leave
[b]22. —(1) Every person subject to military law who is absent without leave from service in the Singapore Armed Forces or from the place where he is lawfully required for the time being to be shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction by a subordinate military court to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or any less punishment authorised by this Act.
(2) It shall be a defence for any person charged under this section to prove that his absence was a result of circumstances over which he had no control.
[/b]
In fact, most AWOL cases are usually dealt with 14/21 extra duties or SOL.
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could beOriginally posted by googoomuck:Another white horse, perhaps. 
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In my day it was the standard punishmentOriginally posted by LazerLordz:That's the maximum punishment. -
I don't know bout 14/21 extra duties, but standard is detention barracks. What's SOL?Originally posted by LazerLordz:"or any less punishment authorised by this Act."
In fact, most AWOL cases are usually dealt with 14/21 extra duties or SOL. -
what abt hongyi?
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"reprimand"..Originally posted by jay_rocks:what abt hongyi? -
I think the officer in charge is also guilty of an offence under the Act.
Failure to report deserters and absentees
24. Every person subject to military law who, knowing that any other person has committed an offence under section 22 or 23 —
(a) fails to report the fact without delay; or
(b) fails to take any steps within his power to cause that person to be apprehended,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction by a subordinate military court to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or any less punishment authorised by this Act. -
His reprimand probably Chief of Defence Force ask him go office drink kopi, then tell him politely, Ah Yi ah, next time don't be so naughty hor.Originally posted by stellazio:"reprimand".. -
your ah gong got special requestOriginally posted by maurizio13:His reprimand probably Chief of Defence Force ask him go office drink kopi, then tell him politely, Ah Yi ah, next time don't be so naughty hor. -
Lets look at the case.
Hong yi blew the whistle, his complaint letter leaked and he got a reprimand, good.
Lt.X AWOL, fine $2500 and basically bad career thereafter unless very outstanding. Good also. It depends on the circumstances of the AWOL. Desertion is automatic DB but not necessarily AWOL.
Justice was done. Lets all move on.
Watch out all of you, be corrupt and the govt will get you.
BTW, I suggest all of you who are employed by others to stop using company time to chat on forum. Thats thievery of company time. -
Originally posted by Mat Toro:Lets look at the case.
BTW, I suggest all of you who are employed by others to stop using company time to chat on forum. Thats thievery of company time. -
SOL = Stoppage of Leave. Basically it's confinement to camp, and you have to report to the guardroom every hour or two. There will be defaulter's parade and a lot of regimented drills.Originally posted by maurizio13:I don't know bout 14/21 extra duties, but standard is detention barracks. What's SOL?
SOL can be as long as a month. -
There's one thing I don't get about you. Why do you assume that people here are all working or are subordinates that do not enjoy a free rein on their work responsibilities?Originally posted by Mat Toro:BTW, I suggest all of you who are employed by others to stop using company time to chat on forum. Thats thievery of company time. -
Many employees take leave today to enjoy a 4-day contiuous break from work, Thurs to Sun.
From now on, you know what NS men should do?
To deal with boredom during guard duties, one shall ask another to relieve him for a few hours so that he can go out of camp to buy a copy of evening newspapers, for example.
He shall then return the favour on the next guard duty. -
Not always..... I got a cook onboard my old ship that kena 7 weekend confinement..... It was his 1st time + there was a reason....Originally posted by maurizio13:I thought absent without leave (AWOL) is an offence punishable by detention barracks (DB). -
one law for the rich, one law for the poor ....
one law for the occifers, one law for the men .....
one type get orh gong, the others go in to peh ....
Welcome to Singapore ....