Complaints will only be considered if submitted in writing to the DC. Complaints can be lodged by AiSP members, by members of the public, or by those associated with the alleged offender’s work (such as employers or co-workers). All complaints will be logged in a dedicated register and their progress tracked, with current status (but not necessarily details of the case) available at all times. The existence of a ongoing complaint will be acknowledged in all references to that person’s membership status.

Apart from exceptional circumstances as determined by the DC, complaints must be lodged within 12 months of the alleged offence.

A “simple breach” is meant to describe a clearly defined single Code item breach that can be expected to be resolved by a brief and straightforward investigation. Initial investigation of apparently non-complex complaints will be handled by a hearing officer, in consultation with the complainant and the alleged offender. The hearing officer may choose to escalate the complaint for full investigation if it is found to exceed the “simple breach” definition, or may propose a final course of action (which may or may not include disciplinary sanction, depending on the finding).

The member may choose to accept the hearing officer’s recommendation. If the member objects, the complaint will be escalated to a full investigation.

The hearing officer must complete any “simple breach” investigation within 30 days, or the complaint (and possibly the hearing officer’s handling of it) will be escalated to a full investigation.

All other complaints will be immediately subject to the full investigation process.

The DC will be empowered to appoint an investigator, a sub-committee, or a work group investigate on its behalf. Appointments would usually be expected to include subject experts relevant to the investigation.

To simplify this discussion we will refer to any/all of the three investigating individuals/groups in the preceding paragraph as the “Investigator."

The Investigator will analyze all aspects of the complaint. The defendant will be notified by the Investigator of the complaint’s detail, and will be entitled to present appropriate defences, mitigations, and information to the Investigator.

Other members can be called to give evidence for or against the defendant. Failing to be honest in such a situation is in itself a breach of the CoC, and will be prosecuted immediately under these procedures.

If required, the defendant can be accompanied or represented in any meetings with the Investigator.

After the proceedings (which must be within 90 days of the initial complaint unless the special verdict “Assumed guilty, further substantiation is being sought” is handed down) the Investigator will report to the DC with an appropriate recommendation.

If the Investigator reaches an initial finding of “Assumed guilty, further substantiation is being sought," full details of the case will be examined by the DC to determine a time frame for the investigation. In normal circumstances that time frame will never exceed 12 months from the initial lodgement of the complaint.

The sanctions, recommended by the Investigator but finally approved and imposed by the Disciplinary Committee, include:

• Warning (for minor breaches/misjudgements. No lasting repercussions.)
• Reprimand (to remain on the Member’s record for three years, and to be taken into account in determining sanctions in further complaints);
• Severe Reprimand (to be published in AiSP newsletters and on the web site, as well as the conditions for Reprimand);
• Suspension (withdrawal of membership and associated rights for a specified period, plus the sanctions detailed under Severe Reprimand)
• Expulsion (final and irrevocable removal from AiSP. Expulsion can be appealed only at five-year intervals.)

Fines up to S$500.00 may also be imposed. A member can accept the fine or choose instead to accept a matching sanction from those listed above.

Counselling may be recommended in all Sanctions up to and including Suspension. Acceptance and successful/effective completion of the counselling process may allow reduction of the severity of the Sanction if so recommended by the Committee.

All sanctions imposed by the DC will specify a duration, if appropriate, and detail any reinstatement process available to the defendant.

The DC will make its judgement after reviewing the Investigator’s report and recommendations, and with due consideration for the defendant’s past behaviour. All sanctions will be noted in the member’s record.

Investigation results (verdict) will be made available to all interested parties on request while any penalty is in force.

Both the defendant and the complainant can appeal the initial decision, with the hearing process to be handled by an Investigator independent of the original process. Otherwise the appeals process will follow the same procedures as an Investigation. Only one appeal will be allowed unless exceptional circumstances or new evidence are brought to the DC.