54. Making away with equipment.—Any person subject to this Act commits any of the following offences, that is to say,—
- (a) makes away with, or is concerned in making away with, any arms, ammunition, equipment, instruments, tools, clothing or any other thing being the property of the Government issued to him for his use or entrusted to him; or
- (b) loses by neglect anything mentioned in clause (a); or
- (c) sells, pawns, destroys or defaces any medal or decoration granted to him;
shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which ma extend in the case of the offences specified in clause (a) to ten years, and in the case of the offences specified in the other clauses to five years, or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
55. Injury to property.—Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following offences, that is to say,—
- (a) destroys or injures any property mentioned in clause (a) of section 54 or any property belonging to any military, naval or air force mess, band or institution, or to any person subject to military,
naval or air force law, or serving with, or attached to, the regular Army; or
- (b) commits any act which causes damage to, or destruction of, any property of the Government by fire; or
- (c) kills, injures, makes away with, ill-treats or loses any animal entrusted to him;
shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable, if he has acted wilfully, to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned; and if be has acted without reasonable excuse, to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
56. False accusations.—Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following offences, that is to say,—
- (a) makes a false accusation against any person subject to this Act, knowing or having reason to believe such accusation to be false; or
- (b) in making a complaint under section 26 or section 27 makes any statement affecting the character of any person subject to this Act, knowing or having reason to believe such statement to be false or knowingly and wilfully suppresses any material facts;
shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
57. Falsifying official documents and false declaration.—Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following offences, that is to say,—
- (a) in any report, return, list, certificate, book or other document made or signed by him, or of the contents of which it is his duty to ascertain the accuracy, knowingly makes, or is privy to the making of any false or fraudulent statement; or
- (b) in any document of the description mentioned in clause (a) knowingly makes, or is privy to the making if, any omission, with intent to defraud; or
