Bring Camera Phone to Red Zone Camps: Charge? Fine $/ SOL?
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Okay first of all, I was caught for bringing a camera phone into camp. But I brought it for a reason. It was for my business emails which I couldn't afford to delay my reply to them. Im a NSF with a small e-business running outside.
Today a sudden raid by the Security Troopers (RPs) made me forfeited my camera phone. My name & IC was taken down and was given a verbal warning saying that this time they will let me off and if there were to be a next time, they will take formal actions against me. I have a few questions here,
- Will I leave a record in the SAF system?
- What are the possible charges for bringing camera phone into red zone camps? DB, SOL, Fine?
Thanks
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Source: www.ns.sg
Military Justice System in the SAF
1. Overview
The military justice system in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is expected to treat every service personnel fairly and equally, regardless of race, rank or vocation.
2. Multi-levelled Approach
The military justice system is based on the SAF Act, which was implemented in 1972. All servicemen are subjected to the SAF Act, SAF Regulations, and orders of whatever form issued pursuant to them.
While discipline is paramount in the military, not all offences committed by SAF servicemen are dealt with by formal investigations and charges. Essentially, offenders can be dealt with either by way of informal or formal punishment systems.
3. Informal Punishment System
Commanders are empowered to mete out informal punishments like push-ups and weekend confinement to servicemen who have committed disciplinary breaches, like being late, sluggish, or improperly dressed.
4. Formal Punishment System
If the offence that a serviceman committed is of a more serious nature, he may be formally dealt with by his disciplinary officer by way of a summary trial, or brought before a subordinate military court (more commonly known as the General Court Martial or GCM).
(a) Summary Trial
The offences that can be dealt with by summary trial are essentially military offences, such as absence without leave (AWOL), non-compliance with lawful orders or insubordination.
Depending on the rank of the serviceman in question, and the type of the disciplinary body hearing the case, the possible sentences that may be imposed can vary, and these can include fines or detention.
The summary trial is carried out in accordance with relevant SAF regulations, and the records of the summary trial are sent to the office of the Director, Legal Services of the SAF.
(b) General Court Martial
The General Court Martial exists as a separate forum from that of the summary trial. Unlike the summary trial, the GCM can deal with a wider range of offences, and can impose a wider range of punishments including imprisonment and discharge, on top of sentences like detention and fines. The GCM is also a more public and open forum, and its proceedings are conducted using similar legal rules and procedures as those used in a civil criminal court.
Generally, only serious offences investigated by the Military Police Command, and which are referred to the office of the Director of Legal Services, will result in the accused serviceman being charged in a GCM. In such a case, a military prosecutor will draw up a formal charge sheet and present it before the GCM.
General Courts Martial can be further sub-divided into two categories, namely the Panel Courts Martial - consisting of a President and usually two other members, and Judge Courts Martial - consisting of a single President only.
Currently, the practice is for military offences to be heard by Panel Courts Martial, while civil offences like misuse of drugs and penal code offences may be dealt with by a Judge Court Martial.
The current policy is also for an NSman, who is or was a District Judge in the Subordinate Courts, to preside in a GCM. There are currently 10 NSmen who have been appointed by the Armed Forces Council to perform duty as President of a court martial. They are rostered by the Registrar of the Subordinate Military Court to hear cases during their in-camp training. In the case of a Panel Court Martial, the other two members are rostered from among some 155 military officers appointed by the Chief of Defence Force.
5. Ways to Seek Redress
There are numerous safeguards and avenues set out in the military justice system for an SAF serviceman to seek redress if he is unhappy about the punishment imposed on him.
Generally, a serviceman who is dissatisfied with an informal punishment meted out to him may request a higher level commander to review the punishment, or request for formal disciplinary dealing.
In the case of a summary trial, a serviceman brought before the disciplinary officer may elect instead to be tried by a court martial. Alternatively, an aggrieved serviceman may request that his conviction or punishment imposed at the summary trial be reviewed by MINDEF's Director Manpower (a delegated authority of the Armed Forces Council).
In the case of a GCM, a serviceman may choose to be represented by a lawyer or an SAF defending officer if his case will be heard by a court martial. The SAF has about 200 trained defending officers. While an SAF defending officer comes free to the serviceman, he has to bear the cost of engaging a lawyer. At the end of the trial, a serviceman who is dissatisfied with the decision of the court martial may petition the Reviewing Authority (the AFC or a committee of its members) for a review of his case. The serviceman can also appeal to the Military Court of Appeal (MCA) for a reconsideration of his conviction, or his sentence, or both.
The MCA, when convened to hear an appeal, sits as a panel of five members. Heading the MCA is a President, who is appointed by the Chief Justice. By law, he must be a person qualified to be a Judge of the Supreme Court. The current President of the MCA is Justice Choo Han Teck. Four other members - two civilian members who are qualified legal practitioners with at least five years experience each, and two senior military officers - make up the rest of the MCA. The MCA is the highest court in the military justice system.
6. Impartial Hearings
It is important to recognise that the GCM and the MCA are tribunals headed by presidents who are outside the SAF chain of command.
Being an "outsider", the president of these forums will hear the case impartially like any other civil criminal case. The proceedings in the GCM and the MCA are also heard in a public forum, and these military courts adopt many of the same legal procedures and safeguards as that used in the civil criminal courts. All servicemen formally charged with an offence can bring their case to these forums. -
Source:
www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/publications/cyberpioneer/news/2012/aug/31aug12_news.htmlFrom 1 Sep 2012, camera mobile phones will be permitted in designated areas within 14 Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) camps as part of a pilot security zoning programme.
Selected for the high volume of Operationally-Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) and full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) who pass through for training or administration, these include camps that house fitness conditioning centres, training institutes, the Central Manpower Base and Basic Military Training Centre.
Areas in camps where camera mobile phones are allowed are termed Green Zones, though the existing security stance on photography remains the same. Unless authorised by unit commanders for special events such as open houses, graduation parades and cohesion activities, photography is prohibited. Examples of Green Zones include medical centres, accommodation bunks and cookhouses.
Within the Red Zones, which are areas where sensitive and classified information is present, camera mobile phones are not allowed. Before entering a Red Zone, camera mobile phones must be deposited in lockers. Examples of Red Zones include units' operation rooms and offices with computer access to classified information.
The pilot programme was implemented for the convenience of servicemen, and because of the proliferation of smart phones, according to Chief of Staff-General Staff Brigadier-General Tung Yui Fai, who announced this initiative at the Infantry Training Institute (ITI) on 31 Aug.
He added: "This security zoning allows us to better secure areas we think we need to protect better. At the same time, it allows flexibility and convenience for our servicemen who operate within the camp."
Enhanced security measures will be in place at the Red Zones. Where practical, a perimeter fence will be erected to demarcate the Red from the Green Zones; clear signboards will be prominently displayed at the entrance of a Red Zone, and digital locks and close-circuit cameras will be installed for added security.
Only camera mobile phones are allowed in this pilot programme, which will last for six to nine months before a review is conducted. Tablets such as iPads, laptops and digital cameras are still prohibited.
For NSman 3rd Sergeant (3SG) (NS) Lavin Achudan, a marketing manager with Johnson & Johnson who uses an iPhone 4S to access his work emails, being able to bring his camera phone into camp eases his workload. Previously, he would borrow his brother’s basic NOKIA phone when he had to go for his In-Camp Training.
"As a marketing manager, I have to constantly reply to emails from my sales team and customers, and replying emails in the shortest time possible is my highest priority. Allowing me to bring my iPhone to camp allows me to communicate with my customers efficiently, and that is very important to me," said the platoon sergeant of 731st Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment.
"When I am not training, I can reply to these emails immediately, as opposed to having to wait till I book out at night to reply to emails. It allows me to reply whenever I have time... It's about the convenience of being able to bring in a phone which I always use, which happens to have a camera," added the 28-year-old.
Echoing this sentiment is 20-year-old NSF 2nd Lieutenant (2LT) Kok Chun Hou, who is a curriculum coordinator at ITI. He uses a basic NOKIA phone in camp and an iPhone 3GS outside of camp.
Citing some inconveniences of using two phones, such as having to input contacts into both phones, 2LT Kok said: "This current NSF generation grew up in the IT age; it's our habit to stay connected. We live, work and play differently from previous generations, so connectivity is very important to us."
"I would also use my smart phone for personal banking and stock-investing. With the implementation of the pilot scheme, I now have the option of just stepping out of the office to use my smart phone," he said
For the convenience of our servicemen, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will be implementing a pilot security zoning programme across 14 selected SAF camps. Under the pilot security zoning programme, these 14 camps will be segregated into two distinct zones: Red and Green Zone.
From 1 Sep 2012, servicemen will be allowed to carry camera equipped mobile phones into the Green Zones of the 14 selected SAF camps. For servicemen who need to enter the Red Zone, they must deposit their camera equipped mobile phones at designated lockers prior to entry.
Photography in all SAF camp premises for both Red and Green Zones remain prohibited unless expressedly allowed.
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will be implementing a pilot security zoning programme across 14 selected SAF camps on 1 Sep 2012. These 14 selected SAF camps will be segregated into either Red or Green Zone. Servicemen will be allowed to carry camera equipped mobile phones in the Green Zones. Possession of camera equipped mobile phone is prohibited in Red Zones. Before entering a Red Zone, servicemen who possess a camera equipped mobile phone are required to deposit them at the provided lockers.
Red Zones. Areas where sensitive and classified information and equipment are processed and managed. These areas may include server rooms, unit operation rooms, and offices with computer access to sensitive information. All other areas outside the Red Zone will be designated as Green Zones. Some examples of Green Zone areas are medical centres, accommodation bunks and cookhouses.
Enhanced security measures will be implemented in the Red Zone. Wherever practical, a perimeter fence will be established to segregate the Red and Green Zones. Clear warning signboards will be prominently displayed at the entrance to inform servicemen that they are about to enter a Red Zone. Digital locks will also be installed to control access into the Red Zones. CCTVs with images wired to the unit operations room will also be installed at selected locations within the Red Zone.
Photography in all SAF camp premises continues to be prohibited regardless of the zone. -
Thanks!
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You are given a verbal warning.
Your name is jotted down in their little black notebook.
You have been warned.The next time, you will eventually be officially charged by the Disciplinary Officer (DO).
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If get charged, the punishments in ABC camp is either:
1. $100 Fine.
2. 28days SOL.
Different camps, different policies. Up to CO.
