Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 70A.djvu/652

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594

594 (b) Action taken under subsection (a) is final, except that action holding a person pecuniarily liable for loss, spoilage, destruction, or damage is not final until approved by the Secretary or an officer of the Air Force designated by him. § 9836. Individual equipment: unauthorized disposition (a) No enlisted member of the Air Force may sell, lend, pledge, barter, or give any clothing, arms, or equipment furnished him by the United States to any person other than a member of the Air Force, or an officer of the United States, authorized to receive it. (b) If a member of the Air Force has disposed of property in violation of subsection (a) and it is in the possession of a person who is neither a member of the Air Force, nor an officer of the United States, authorized to receive it, that person has no right to or interest in the property, and any civil or military officer of the United States may seize it, wherever found. Possession of such property furnished by the United States to a member of the Air Force, by a person who is neither a member of the Air Force nor an officer of the United States, is prima facie evidence that it has been disposed of in violation of subsection (a). (c) If an officer who seizes property under subsection (b) is not authorized to retain it for the United States, he shall deliver it to » person who is authorized to retain it. § 9837. Settlement of accounts: deductions from pay (a) An amount due the United States from an enlisted member of the Air Force for articles sold to the member on credit under section 9621 (a)(1) of this title shall be deducted from the next pay due that member after the sale is reported. An amount due the United States from an enlisted member of the Air Force for tobacco sold to him by the United States under section 9623 of this title shall be deducted from his pay in the manner provided for the settlement of clothing accounts. (b) Under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Air Force, any amount that an enlisted member is administratively determined to owe the United States or any of its instrumentalities may be deducted from his pay in monthly installments. However, after the deduction of pay forfeited by the sentence of a court-martial, if any, or otherwise authorized by law to be withheld, the deductions authorized by this section may not reduce the pay actually I'eceived for any month to less than one-third of his basic pay for that month. (c) Subject to subsection (b), an amount due the United States from an enlisted member may be deducted from his pay on final statement, or from his savings on his clothing allowance. (d) If he considers it in the best interest of the United States, the Secretary may have remitted or cancelled any part of an enlisted member's indebtedness to the United States or any of its instrumentalities remaining unpaid before, or at the time of, that member's honorable discharge. (e) The amount of any damage, or cost of repairs, to arms or equipment caused by the abuse or negligence of a member of the Air Force who had the care of, or was using, the property when it was damaged shall be deducted from his pay.