Court Martials Vs Summary Trials, Military Courts Vs A Commander's Personal Office

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An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:

Part I of IV

Court Martials Vs Summary Trials, Military Courts Vs A Commander's Personal Office

Whilst MINDEF is usually quick to correct erroneous reports in the media, this time around, they are happy for the media like the 147th and Today to continue with their ongoing errors.

The media's error, both in print and online, is in stating that these two were "court martialled" in a "military court". This conveys to the public that this case has been handled with a high level of no nonsense seriousness. This is absolutely and blatantly false. MINDEF's, Ng Eng Hen's and BG Chan's continued self-serving refusal to correct this glaring error point to their deceit and dishonesty.

In truth and in reality, MINDEF has contemptuously treated the soldier's death as nothing more than a minor incident. The evidence of this is in the manner the two were "prosecuted" in a "Summary Trial" which is reserved for minor disciplinary offences. This is the reason why the punishments meted out to these two were totally disproportionate to the very serious outcome of death caused by their unacceptable negligence.

MINDEF, Ng Eng Hen and BG Chan were reluctant to reveal what the punishments were until it appeared online through simple deductions and reasonings. But they are still too frighten to disclose to the public how much exactly these two Officers were fined. The reason is because the public will be shocked by how small the fines are in contrast to the gravity of their offence. From the statements MINDEF, Ng Eng Hen and BG Chan have made, it is evident that these two were not even meted out with the maximum $3,000 fine allowable in a Summary Trial for Officers holding the rank of Captain or Major. The inevitable questions which will then arise which the public will invariably ask is whether there was corruption involved, interference to cover up for a scholar, white horse, relatives, etc.

Remember, until today, the OC who is the Supervising Officer, has yet to be named nor was he ever charged or punished under the SAF's culture of "Command Responsibility" as explained by Teo Chee Hean.




Part II to continue...


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