3.—(1) If it is represented to the Public Service Commission by a Permanent Secretary that a public officer has been guilty of misconduct or neglect of duty and the Public Service Commission is of the opinion that the subject of the complaint is not serious enough to warrant proceedings under regulation 4 with a view to dismissal or reduction in rank, the Public Service Commission may cause an investigation to be made into the matter in such manner as it thinks fit.
(2) The public officer shall be informed in writing of the case against him and shall have a reasonable opportunity of replying thereto.
(3) The Public Service Commission may, after considering the case made against the public officer, his reply thereto and the results of the investigation, if any, if it is of the opinion that —
(a)
the allegation has been proved, impose a penalty, such as stoppage or deferment of increment, fine or reprimand, or a combination of such penalties; or
(b)
the results of such investigation disclose grounds for so doing, require the public officer to retire in the public interest without further proceedings under these Regulations, with or without a reduction in retirement benefits.
(4) The public officer shall be given an opportunity to submit a reply to the grounds upon which his retirement is contemplated.