WHEN Parliament meets on Monday, Home Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng is expected to give an update on disciplinary action in the wake of the Mas Selamat escape.

The House heard on April 21 how a confluence of security breaches and weaknesses at the Whitley Road Detention Centre allowed the terror fugitive to escape.

He had been held there under the Internal Security Act since March 2006.

After considering Criminal Investigation Department findings which showed no evidence of criminal wrongdoing, the Attorney-General's Chambers decided not to lay criminal charges against any individual.

Instead, it was decided that disciplinary action be taken against the guards, detention centre staff, and any others found culpable.

'There is a proper process for disciplinary action under civil service or Police Force rules and this must take its course,' the Minister told Parliament last month.

Contacted by The Straits Times, the Public Service Commission (PSC) said it has authority over the discipline and dismissal of civil servants, as vested under Article 103 of the Constitution and the Public Service (Disciplinary Proceedings) Regulations.

However certain categories of officers, such as junior police officers, will be disciplined by the Police Force under the Police Force Act.

According to the PSC's 2007 Annual Report, it handled 30 disciplinary cases last year under the Public Service Regulations.

In all disciplinary cases in the civil service, the officer will get an opportunity to be heard first. If he denies the charges, a panel comprising two civil servants and a Justice of Peace will be formed to investigate.

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