17. Trial and punishment of person committing service offence

Any person subject to this Act who is alleged to have committed a service offence may be charged, dealt with and tried by a court or may be dealt with by a disciplinary officer under the provisions of this Act and shall, if found guilty of the service offence by a court or by a disciplinary officer, be liable to be punished or dealt with in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

Where a charge against a person for a service offence is dealt with by a disciplinary officer, a reference in any provision of this Act to a conviction is to be construed as a reference to a finding of guilt made by a disciplinary officer.