My unit just had MP raided our premises. We all know that no mobile phones with camera are to be used in offices with the red zone stickers sticked on the door. What i didn't know is that even if you keep the phone in your pocket, and enter the red zoned offices, it's also not allowed and you'd still be charged. Dafug?
I don't even want to argue now. Just want to know what could be the potential punishment meted out for this offence. In my phone i also had self taken photos of myself in camp, what could be the punishment for this too? Damn, stressing me out zzz.
All camera-equipped mobile phones will now be allowed into Green Zones. In-vehicle cameras will also be permitted in Green Zones. However, servicemen will need to ensure that in-vehicle cameras are not used for unauthorised photography or videography.
There are no changes to the prohibition of camera-equipped mobile phones in sensitive areas designated as Red Zones, where classified information and equipment are processed and managed. All camera-equipped mobile phones will need to be deposited in designated lockers before entry into the Red Zones.
Unauthorised photography and videography within all SAF camp premises remain prohibited in all zones.
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.
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.
GG and good luck to you...
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.
Singapore's national servicemen (NSmen) will be able to bring camera phones into 15 additional camps from next month.
This was announced by the Defence Ministry, after a meeting of the Committee to Strengthen National Service at Sembawang Camp on Friday morning.
Currently, 14 camps already allow camera phones within their premises. This is part of a trial that started a year ago.
The phones are however only allowed in certain areas, known as green zones.
These are less sensitive than red zones where classified information and equipment are managed.
The move to allow camera phones into more camps will help NSmen better balance their in-camp training duties with other commitments outside camp.
The additional 15 camps are: Amoy Quee Camp, Bukit Panjang Camp, Dieppe Barracks, Jurong Camp I & III, Kaki Bukit Camp, Keat Hong Camp, Kranji Camp I, Lim Chu Kang Camp, Mandai Camp II, Mandai Hill Camp, Nee Soon Camp, Selarang Camp, Sembawang Camp, Stagmont Camp and Tanjong Gul Camp.