Defence Act 1954

179C

F207[Summary disposal by subordinate officer.

179C.(1) This section applies where a private or seaman elects under section 179B to have the charge disposed of summarily by the subordinate officer.

(2) The subordinate officer may, subject to subsection (5) of this section, dismiss the charge at any stage of the hearing.

(3) If the subordinate officer determines that the charge has not been proved he shall dismiss the charge.

(4) The subordinate officer may, after hearing the evidence or without hearing the evidence, refer the charge to the commanding officer who shall deal with the charge in accordance with sections 178 to 178D.

(5) After hearing the evidence or, if the private or seaman consents to the attendance of witnesses being dispensed with and admits the offence charged, having considered the available evidence, where the subordinate officer makes a determination that the charge has been proved, he shall

(a) record the determination, and

(b) subject to subsections (6) and (7) of this section, award one or a combination of the following punishments:

(i) a fine not exceeding an amount equal to three days pay of the private or seaman at the most recent applicable rate;

(ii) stoppage of local leave or shore leave, as the case may be, for a period or periods not exceeding a total of seven days, as may be prescribed under section 184;

(iii) additional duties as may be prescribed under section 184;

(iv) a warning.

(6) Save as provided for by subsection (10) of this section, only the following combinations of punishments may be awarded by a subordinate officer:

(a) in the case where the subordinate officer awards a fine under subparagraph (i) of paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of this section, he may also award

(i) stoppage of local leave or shore leave under subparagraph (ii) of the said paragraph (b), or

(ii) additional duties under subparagraph (iii) of the said paragraph (b);

or

(b) in the case where the subordinate officer awards stoppage of local leave or shore leave under subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of this section, he may also award additional duties under subparagraph (iii) of the said paragraph (b).

(7) Where the subordinate officer records a determination that two or more charges against the private or seaman have been proved, he shall award a single punishment or combination of punishments in accordance with subsections (5) and (6) of this section in respect of the charges taken together.

(8) The private or seaman may have an assisting person present at but not participating in the hearing before the subordinate officer.

(9) The evidence against the private or seaman taken before the subordinate officer shall, if the private or seaman so demands, be taken on oath, and in that event there shall be administered to each witness the same oath or solemn declaration as that required to be taken by a witness before a court-martial, and for this purpose the subordinate officer may administer oaths and solemn declarations.

(10) Where the subordinate officer makes a determination under this section that a charge has been proved and the offence charged occasioned any personal injury, expense or loss or destruction of, or damage to, any property, the subordinate officer may, instead of or in addition to any punishment which he is authorised by this section to award in respect of the offence, order that there shall be paid by the private or seaman, as compensation for the personal injury, expense, loss, damage or destruction so occasioned, to any person who has suffered such personal injury, expense, loss, damage or destruction, such sum as the subordinate officer may direct not exceeding the lesser of

(a) the amount required to make good such personal injury, expense, loss, damage or destruction, or

(b) an amount equal to seven days pay of the private or seaman.

(11) A compensation order under subsection (10) of this section may provide for payment of the compensation by such instalments and at such times as the subordinate officer shall in all the circumstances consider reasonable.]

Annotations

Amendments:

F207

Inserted (1.09.2008) by Defence (Amendment) Act 2007 (24/2007), s. 28, S.I. No. 254 of 2008.