Sailor who deserted ship in Florida gets severe reprimand and $5,000 fine

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Lt. Derek De Jong and his wife Maria head from court after his court martial in Halifax on Wednesday, May 7, 2014. De Jong was given a severe reprimand and a ,000 fine for deserting his post on a navy supply vessel in September 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

HALIFAX – A military judge gave a severe reprimand and levied a $5,000 fine today against a Royal Canadian Navy officer who pleaded guilty to deserting his post in September 2012.

Lt. Derek de Jong was aboard the supply ship HMCS Preserver in Key West, Fla., when he left the vessel and returned to Halifax.

De Jong told his court martial that prior to deserting, he was subjected to harassment that included a female colleague urinating in his cabin.

The defence had asked for a reprimand and a fine, while a military prosecutor wanted de Jong reprimanded and demoted one rank to sub-lieutenant.

The maximum sentence for desertion under the National Defence Act is life in prison.

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