SAF civilian employee jailed 33 months for desertion
AsiaOne
Sunday, Sep 23, 2012
SINGAPORE - A civilian who left her Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) job and disappeared for 13 years has been sentenced to 33 months' jail time for desertion.
V. Mariammal, 48, was then a logistics supply technician employed on a six-year contract with SAF under a scheme currently known as the Defence Executive Scheme (DXO), The Straits Times reported.
She was supposed to be under SAF employment until 2001, but left the job and headed to India in 1998 after experiencing stress over personal financial problems.
She subsequently obtained an Indian passport and visited Singapore three times between 2004 and 2007.
She attempted to enter Singapore again in 2011, but was picked up by the authorities and jailed eight months for immigration offences.
The mother of three was then charged with desertion by SAF.
She is currently appealing the sentence as this is believed to be the first in recent times involving a civilian who deserted the army.
The question is whether a civilian offender should face the same heavy penalties dealt out to a compulsorily conscripted serviceman who deserts his responsibilities in order to avoid liability.
The court acknowledged that SAF suffered "no real loss" by Mariammal not reporting for work. "She did not appear at work, she did not receive her pay," they said.
However, the court said that given that SAF has an important role in protecting the nation, it is therefore necessary to ensure SAF staff "keep their stations at personal risk, especially in the hour of need".
Hence, all staff - uniformed or non-uniformed - are subject to military law.
Desertion carries with it a maximum jail term of 10 years and a minimum jail term of 36 months.
The court took into account Mariammal's mitigating circumstances in reducing her jail term to 33 months.
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