A busy day
Been coming back home the past few days. Went to Court Martial Center today as a defending officer. What's a defending officer? According to the directive, all accused have the right to defend themselves. They can either hire their own lawyer or choose a defending officer. In the event of neither, the unit will choose the defending officer for him. Fortunately or unfortunately, it was me.
Prior to the hearing, as the defending officer, I'm suppose to interview him to find out the factors leading to the offence. In this case, since it was Absence without Leave (AWOL), I'm suppose to find out what were he reasons for going AWOL. Usually the family background, financial stability, personal (girlfriend) problems are dug out. After consolidating all the facts and factors leading to the offence, the defending officer is to write out a mitigation plea for the accused. In the mitigation plea, you are to state the factors leading to the offence and plead on behalf of the accused for leniancy for sentencing. So end of the day, my job is to write out the mitigation plea and during the hearing, read it to the President of the jury.
The jury would consist of a President and 2 members. President so far I've encountered are LTC and the members were CPT and/or MAJ. Each case would be heard first. After which, the hearing would be adjourned while they deliberate on the sentence. This usually takes about 30mins or longer depending on the cases brought up. After the sentence has been read out, your job as a defending officer ends.
An interesting case was presented today. Someone who refused to take the oath of allegiance was being charged today. Apparently it was due to his religious beliefs. Didn't stay long during the hearing bcoz it was taking soooo damn long. Now do i know that you can be charged for not taking the oath under the Enlistment Act.
Saw quite a number of familiar faces today. At the court martial centre saw Haoren. At the nearby canteen saw Jeremy, Ziyi and Derek. At Mowbray camp saw Kerwei. Last but not least, stopped by at CMPD and paid the DXOs at AFRC a visit. Been a long time (almost 1 yr) since I last saw them. Had a nice chat with all of them there. Though most of them couldn't remember me, but slowly their memory were refreshed as we talked. Really quite fun talking to them about the times when I was at AFRC. Coincidentally my upperstudy was once an FEP like me! hoho.. so got quite alot of catching up to do. The new FEPs there said it was too slack?! haha.. but soon they will adjust to the life there.
End of the day, didn't return back to camp at all. The hearing took up the entire morning. Afternoon was going Mowbray camp and CMPB to collect some docs.. Rather busy day!
Prior to the hearing, as the defending officer, I'm suppose to interview him to find out the factors leading to the offence. In this case, since it was Absence without Leave (AWOL), I'm suppose to find out what were he reasons for going AWOL. Usually the family background, financial stability, personal (girlfriend) problems are dug out. After consolidating all the facts and factors leading to the offence, the defending officer is to write out a mitigation plea for the accused. In the mitigation plea, you are to state the factors leading to the offence and plead on behalf of the accused for leniancy for sentencing. So end of the day, my job is to write out the mitigation plea and during the hearing, read it to the President of the jury.
The jury would consist of a President and 2 members. President so far I've encountered are LTC and the members were CPT and/or MAJ. Each case would be heard first. After which, the hearing would be adjourned while they deliberate on the sentence. This usually takes about 30mins or longer depending on the cases brought up. After the sentence has been read out, your job as a defending officer ends.
An interesting case was presented today. Someone who refused to take the oath of allegiance was being charged today. Apparently it was due to his religious beliefs. Didn't stay long during the hearing bcoz it was taking soooo damn long. Now do i know that you can be charged for not taking the oath under the Enlistment Act.
Saw quite a number of familiar faces today. At the court martial centre saw Haoren. At the nearby canteen saw Jeremy, Ziyi and Derek. At Mowbray camp saw Kerwei. Last but not least, stopped by at CMPD and paid the DXOs at AFRC a visit. Been a long time (almost 1 yr) since I last saw them. Had a nice chat with all of them there. Though most of them couldn't remember me, but slowly their memory were refreshed as we talked. Really quite fun talking to them about the times when I was at AFRC. Coincidentally my upperstudy was once an FEP like me! hoho.. so got quite alot of catching up to do. The new FEPs there said it was too slack?! haha.. but soon they will adjust to the life there.
End of the day, didn't return back to camp at all. The hearing took up the entire morning. Afternoon was going Mowbray camp and CMPB to collect some docs.. Rather busy day!
posted by Asuki | 6:48 PM
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