LAPSE IN JUDGEMENT: The squad leader admitted to dereliction of duty and endangering the security of the military unit by falling asleep on his 4am to 6am shift
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By Hsu Kuo-chen / Staff reporter
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A soldier caught sleeping on duty after playing online games all night has been sentenced to three months’ probation for dereliction of guard duties, the Taichung District Court said in a ruling on Wednesday.
The soldier, surnamed Lung (龍), was assigned to the Army’s 302nd Infantry Brigade and was responsible for guard duty at Chenggong Ling (成功嶺) military training camp in Taichung from 4am to 6am on Sept. 4 last year, the ruling said.
However, during his day off the previous day, he stayed up almost all night playing online games, leaving him mentally fatigued after returning to duty, it said.
The entrance to the Chenggong Ling military training camp in Taichung is pictured in an undated photograph.
Photo: Chen Chien-chih, Taipei Times
At about 4:50am that day, shortly after the patrol officer completed the routine inspection and left, Lung, unable to fight the fatigue, sat cross-legged on a folding table beside the guard post and fell asleep, the ruling said.
Just 17 minutes later, at approximately 5:07am, the brigade commander conducted his own inspection and caught Lung sitting asleep, it said.
The case was investigated by the Military Police and referred to the Taichung District Prosecutors’ Office.
Lung admitted to the offense, and evidence included surveillance footage from the camp, duty rosters and verification reports, the ruling said.
The prosecutors said Lung, as squad leader, was expected to maintain a high level of vigilance, and alleged his personal misconduct led to dereliction of duty, compromising camp security.
The court ruled that Lung knowingly fell asleep at his guard post after staying up all night playing games, despite being required to stay alert while on duty.
His lapse endangered the security of the military unit, it added.
Considering that he admitted to the offense and had no prior record, the court sentenced Lung to three months in prison for dereliction of duty, with the sentence suspended for two years and the option to pay a fine instead.
He was also ordered to pay NT$30,000.
The verdict is subject to appeal.
