Section 68: Miscellaneous offences relating to property

(1) A person subject to service law under this Act who-
(a) loses a public or service property of which he has the charge or which forms part of the property of which he has the charge or which has been entrusted to his care; or
(b) by negligence, damages a public or service property of which he has the charge or which has been entrusted to his care or which forms part of the property of which he has the charge or which has been entrusted to his care; or
(c) by negligence, causes damage to a public or service property; or
(d) fails to take proper care of an animal or a bird used in the public service which is in his charge; or
(e) makes away (by pawning or in any other way) with any military, naval or airforce decoration granted to him or any clothing, arms, ammunition or other equipment issued to him for his use for military purposes,
is guilty of an offence under this section and liable, on conviction by a court-martial, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or any less punishment provided by this Act.
(2) It shall be a defence for a person charged under paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section with losing a property that he took reasonable steps for the care and preservation of the property.