Yewsang v Chief of Army [2013] ADFDAT 1

DEFENCE FORCE DISCIPLINE APPEAL TRIBUNAL

Yewsang v Chief of Army [2013] ADFDAT 1 Citation: Yewsang v Chief of Army [2013] ADFDAT 1

Appeal from: Defence Force Magistrate

Parties: ASHLEY YEWSANG v CHIEF OF ARMY

File number: DFDAT 3 of 2012

Judges: TRACEY J - PRESIDENT, WHITE JA - DEPUTY PRESIDENT AND LOGAN J - MEMBER

Date of judgment: 21 March 2013

Catchwords: DEFENCE – Convictions relating to claims for reunion travel – whether Defence Force Magistrate incorrectly found that witness not confronted with certain allegation directly in cross examination – whether inadequate reasons given for accepting evidence-in-chief in preference to evidence given in cross examination – whether Defence Force Magistrate rejected evidence of witness on the basis of ill-founded assumption – whether inadequate reasons given for adverse credit finding and finding of dishonesty – whether conviction unreasonable, unsafe or unsatisfactory

Legislation: Criminal Code 1995 (Cth) – s 134.2 Defence Act 1903 (Cth) – s 58B Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 (Cth) – s 61 Defence Force Discipline Appeals Act 1955 (Cth) – ss 20, 23 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) – s 161

Cases cited: Allied Pastoral Holdings Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1983) 70 FLR 447 – cited Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 – considered, applied Intertransport International Private Ltd v Donaldson [2005] VSCA 303 – cited King v Chief of Army [2012] ADFDAT 4 – cited M v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 487 – considered, followed MFA v The Queen (2002) 213 CLR 606 – cited, considered Mobasa Pty Ltd v Nikic (1987) 47 NTR 48 – cited MWJ v R (2006) 222 ALR 436 – considered, applied Pettitt v Dunkley [1971] 1 NSWLR 376 – considered, followed Reid v Kerr (1974) 9 SASR 367 – cited SKA v R (2011) 243 CLR 400 – considered