Offences in relation to desertion, absence and failure to perform duties 15. (1) Any member who deserts shall be guilty of an offence and liable— (a ) if the offence was committed whilst he was on active service or under orders for active service, to imprisonment or any lesser punishment; (b ) in any other case, to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or any lesser punishment. (2) Any member who— (a ) absents himself without leave; or (b ) without reasonable excuse, fails to attend for any parade or duty; or (c) leaves any parade or duty without permission; or (d ) being required to attend an educational institution, whether civilian or otherwise, fails to attend thereat or absents himself therefrom without leave; or (e) knowingly makes any false statement for the purpose of obtai ning or prolonging leave; shall be guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or any lesser punishment. (3) Any member who, knowing that another member — (a ) has deserted; or (b ) has absented himself without leave; or (c) intends to desert or absent himself without leave; fails to report such knowledge without delay or fails to take any reasonable steps to cause such member to be apprehended, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or any lesser punishment. Malingering 16. Any member who — (a ) feigns any sickness or disability; or (b ) injures himself or causes himself to be injured by any other person with intent thereby to render himself unfit for servic e; or (c) injures another member, whether or not at the instance of that other member, with intent thereby to render that other member unfit for service; or (d ) with intent to render or keep himself unfit for service, does or fails to do anything whereby he produces, prolongs or aggravates any sickness or disability; shall be guilty of the offence of malingering and liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or any lesser punishment. Offences in relation to drunkenness and disorderly behaviour 17. Any member who — (a ) owing to the influence of alcohol or any drug or both— (i) is unfit to be entrusted with his duty or with any duty which he may be called upon to perform; or (ii) behaves in a disorderly manner; or (iii) behaves in any manner likely to bring discredit upon the Defence Forces; or (b ) behaves in a riotous, disorderly or unseemly manner; shall be guilty of an offence and liable— (i) where the offence was committed on active service, to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or any lesser punishment; (ii) in any other case, to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or any lesser punishment. Offences in relation to State property or service property 18. Any member who — (a ) steals; or (b ) knowing it to have been stolen, receives; or (c) wilfully abandons; or (d ) wilfully destroys or damages; or (e) wilfully fails or wilfully omits to take any reasonable steps to prevent the destruction of or damage to; any State property or service property shall be guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment or any lesser punishment. Miscellaneous offences in relation to State property or service property 19. (1) Any member who— (a ) by negligence, causes damage to any State property or service property; or (b ) fails to take proper care of any animal or bird of the State which is in his charge; or (c) fails to take all reasonable precautions to safeguard arms, ammunition or explosives of the State which are in his possession; shall be guilty of an offence. (2) Any member who— (a ) negligently loses; or (b ) by negligence, causes damage to; or (c) makes away with, whether by pawning, pledging, selling, destroying, abandoning or in any other way; any — (i) State property or service property of which he has the charge or which has been entrusted to his care; or (ii) clothing, arms, ammunition or other equipment issued to him for his use for military purposes; or (iii) decoration awarded to him; shall be guilty of an offence. (3) Any member who— (a ) without authority— (i) takes or removes from its appointed place; or (ii) uses for any purpose other than on State or service duty; or (iii) has in his possession; any State property or service property; or (b ) improperly uses, takes or removes from the possession or control of any other member any clothing, arms, ammunition or other equipment issued to that member for his use for military purposes; shall be guilty of an offence. (4) Any member who, being responsible for any State property or service property, so negligently performs his duties as to result in any deficiency in such property shall be guilty of an offence. (5) Any member who commits an offence in terms of this paragraph shall be liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or any lesser punishment. (6) If, in any prosecution for a contravention of subparagraph (a ) of subparagraph (2), it is proved that the property or article in question was— (a ) in the charge of the accused; or