Desertion
23.—(1)  Every person subject to military law who deserts shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction by a subordinate military court to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or any less punishment authorised by this Act.
(2)  For the purposes of this section, a person deserts if he or she —
(a)leaves or fails to attend at his or her place of duty in the Singapore Armed Forces with the intention of remaining permanently absent from duty without lawful authority, or, having left or failed to attend at his or her place of duty in the Singapore Armed Forces, thereafter forms the like intention; or
(b)absents himself or herself without leave with intent to avoid service or any particular service before the enemy,
and references in this Act to desertion are to be construed accordingly.