you are treated like worst than a dog in NS

SAF court raises doubts on car theft convictions
Military appeal court asks whether joyride should be considered as theft
By Khushwant Singh

DOES taking someone else's car for a joyride, then parking it back where you found it, constitute theft?

This question was asked by the Military Court of Appeal on Thursday as it considered the case of three soldiers who did just that while on a security operation at Sembawang Wharves.

Last December, the trio were sentenced to detention for between nine and 15 months for offences which included taking joyrides in several new Kia Koup cars that were due to be shipped abroad.

They appealed against their sentences, but Singapore's top military court raised doubts on Thursday about whether the theft convictions were sustainable under the law.

Supreme Court Registrar Foo Chee Hock, a member of the five-man appeals panel, asked if the offence should be considered as theft as the cars were never taken out of the vicinity of the wharves.

The panel gave the men's lawyers and military prosecutors seven days to submit arguments on whether the convictions were sustainable.