In the matter of an appeal against conviction from General Court Martial of 224815 Captain Rodney Neville Bridges [1989] ADFDAT 1

: ¢ ower on WL ad BD

Defence Force Discipline Act, ss.23, 24, 37, 55, 56, 116 and IN THE MATTER OF The Defence Force Discipline Appeals Act AND IN THE MATTER OF An appeal against conviction from General Court Martial of 224815 Captain Rodney Neville Bridges

No. DFDAT 2 of 1988

Canberra 21 April 1989

Members: The Hon. Sir Edward Woodward (President) His Honour Judge E. Broad (Member ) The Hon. Mr Justice J.F. Gallop (Member)

"

wx

IN THE DEFENCE FORCE

DISCIPLINE APPEAL TRIBUNAL

Members:

Canberra 21 April

) ) ' No. DFDAT 2 of 1988

)

IN THE MATTER of the Defence

Force Discipline Appeals Act _AND IN THE MATTER of an Appeal

against conviction from General Court Martial of

-224815 Captain Rodney Neville Bridges

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

The Hon. His Honour Judge E.

Sir Edward Woodward (President)

Broad _ (Member )

The Hon. Mr Justice J.F. Gallop (Member)

This was an appeal against convictions of the appellant before a general court martial held at Brisbane on 8-10 June and 27~28 June 1988. The appellant had been tried and convicted of five charges of making a false statement in relation to an application for benefit, twenty-one charges of stealing property and one charge of obtaining financial advantage by deception. He was sentenced on each charge to be dismissed from the Defence Force and ordered to make reparation of moneys found to be stolen and obtained by deception, namely $6055.53.

On review, the reviewing authority quashed the findings and sentences in respect of a large number of convictions and approved the findings in respect of three charges of making a false statement in relation to application for benefit contrary to s.56 of the Defence

Force Discipline Act 1982 (the Act) and two charges of

falsification of a service document contrary to s.55(1)(a). In respect of each conviction the reviewing authority quashed the sentences and substituted sentences of two years forfeiture of service for the purposes of promotion and severe reprimand in respect of each of those charges.