Singapore Armed Forces Act 1972 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 4 · Summary Trial by Disciplinary Officers and Composition of Military Offences
72. Power of Senior Disciplinary Committee
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2022. 4 amendments in all.
A charge against an officer of or above the rank of brigadier‑general or rear admiral (one-star) or a senior military expert of or above the rank of ME8, may be dealt with summarily by a Senior Disciplinary Committee appointed by the Chairperson of the Armed Forces Council for that purpose.
officer
“officer” means a person appointed by the President of Singapore or the proper authority to hold the rank of officer in the Singapore Armed Forces and includes any person commissioned as an officer under any written law that is repealed by this Act;
Despite subsection (1), a Senior Disciplinary Committee has the power to deal with a charge against an officer of the rank of colonel, or a senior military expert of the rank of ME7, in any case referred to it by the Armed Forces Council under section 75(4)(a)(ii).
Senior Disciplinary Committee
“Senior Disciplinary Committee” means a Senior Disciplinary Committee appointed under section 72;
The Senior Disciplinary Committee must consist of at least 3 members of the Armed Forces Council or any other uneven number, the majority of whom must be members of the Singapore Armed Forces.
Armed Forces Council
“Armed Forces Council” means the Armed Forces Council established under section 8;
The members of the Senior Disciplinary Committee must be equivalent or superior in rank to the accused or must each be holding an appointment equivalent or superior to that held by the accused.
The seniority of such appointments is to be determined by the Chairperson of the Armed Forces Council.
The Senior Disciplinary Committee may —
dismiss the charge if it is of the opinion that the charge ought not to be proceeded with; or
deal with the case summarily and upon conviction of the accused, impose any one or all of the following punishments:
forfeiture of seniority of rank and forfeiture of all or any part of service for purposes of promotion;
a fine not exceeding a sum of $30,000;
reprimand.
In addition to or in lieu of any other punishment, the Senior Disciplinary Committee may order that the accused shall suffer any deduction from his or her ordinary pay authorised by this Act.
Where the Senior Disciplinary Committee considers under this section that the accused should be tried by a subordinate military court, the Committee must refer the charge to the Director, Legal Services of the Singapore Armed Forces.
Committee
“Committee” means the Committee appointed under section 201C(2);
Where the Senior Disciplinary Committee has proceeded to deal with a case summarily under this section and is satisfied on the evidence as to the guilt of the accused, the Committee must, before proceeding to conviction and punishment other than a reprimand, give the accused an opportunity of electing to be tried by a subordinate military court.
military court
“military court” means a general court martial or the Military Court of Appeal.
If the accused so elects, the Committee must refer the charge to the Director, Legal Services of the Singapore Armed Forces who must direct that the charge be tried by a subordinate military court.
Director, Legal Services of the Singapore Armed Forces
“Director, Legal Services of the Singapore Armed Forces” means the person appointed by the Armed Forces Council under section 82(5)(a);
Every decision of the Senior Disciplinary Committee must be in accordance with the opinion of the majority of the members dealing with the case.