s 70 Manner of dealing with charges
70. —(1) Before an allegation against a person subject to this Act (called in this Act the accused) that he or she has committed a service offence is further proceeded with, the allegation must — ( a ) if the accused is a public officer — be reported in the form of a charge to a disciplinary officer and dealt with in accordance with the provisions of this Part; or ( b ) if the accused is not a public officer — (i) be reported in the form of a charge to a disciplinary officer and dealt with in accordance with the provisions of this Part; or (ii) be referred to a member or public officer authorised by the Commissioner to compound service offences for composition of the offence under section 85A. [Act 24 of 2022 wef 28/10/2022] (2) A disciplinary officer when dealing with a charge against an accused — ( a ) must refer the charge to the Commissioner if the accused is a public officer or if the disciplinary officer considers that the charge ought to be dealt with by a court; ( b ) may dismiss the charge if the disciplinary officer is of the opinion that it ought not to be further proceeded with; or ( c ) may try the accused. (3) References in this Act to dealing with a charge by a disciplinary officer are references to the taking by the appropriate disciplinary officer, as the case may require, of the following actions: ( a ) determining whether the accused is guilty; ( b ) dismissing the charge or recording a finding of guilt accordingly; and ( c ) awarding punishment. —(1) Before an allegation against a person subject to this Act (called in this Act the accused) that he or she has committed a service offence is further proceeded with, the allegation must — ( a ) if the accused is a public officer — be reported in the form of a charge to a disciplinary officer and dealt with in accordance with the provisions of this Part; or ( b ) if the accused is not a public officer — (i) be reported in the form of a charge to a disciplinary officer and dealt with in accordance with the provisions of this Part; or (ii) be referred to a member or public officer authorised by the Commissioner to compound service offences for composition of the offence under section 85A. [Act 24 of 2022 wef 28/10/2022] (2) A disciplinary officer when dealing with a charge against an accused — ( a ) must refer the charge to the Commissioner if the accused is a public officer or if the disciplinary officer considers that the charge ought to be dealt with by a court; ( b ) may dismiss the charge if the disciplinary officer is of the opinion that it ought not to be further proceeded with; or ( c ) may try the accused. (3) References in this Act to dealing with a charge by a disciplinary officer are references to the taking by the appropriate disciplinary officer, as the case may require, of the following actions: ( a ) determining whether the accused is guilty; ( b ) dismissing the charge or recording a finding of guilt accordingly; and ( c ) awarding punishment.