Absence without
leave
22. —(1) Every person subject to military law who
is absent without leave from service in the Singapore Armed Forces
or from the place where he is lawfully required for the time being
to be shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on
conviction by a subordinate military court to imprisonment for a
term not exceeding 2 years or any less punishment authorised by
this Act.
(2) It shall be a defence for any person charged under this
section to prove that his absence was a result of circumstances
over which he had no control.
Desertion
23. —(1) Every person subject to military law who
deserts shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on
conviction by a subordinate military court to imprisonment for a
term not exceeding 10 years or any less punishment authorised by
this Act.
(2) For the purposes of this section, a person deserts if he
—
(a) leaves or fails to attend at his place of duty in the
Singapore Armed Forces with the intention of remaining permanently
absent from duty without lawful authority, or, having left or
failed to attend at his place of duty in the Singapore Armed
Forces, thereafter forms the like intention; or
(b) absents himself without leave with intent to avoid service
or any particular service before the enemy,
and references in this Act to desertion shall be construed
accordingly.
Failure to report deserters and
absentees
24. Every person subject to military law who,
knowing that any other person has committed an offence under
section 22 or 23 —
(a) fails to report the fact without delay; or
(b) fails to take any steps within his power to cause that
person to be apprehended,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction
by a subordinate military court to imprisonment for a term not
exceeding 2 years or any less punishment authorised by this
Act.