What The Authorities Have Done So Far In The Navy Cadet's Case Who Was Tortured To Death
A Special Investigation Board has been formed to investigate.
By Sadho Ram — 10 Jun 2017, 02:07 PM
It's been more than a week since the death of 21-year-old Navy cadet officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain who was tortured by his so-called friends at the Army Trainee dormitory in the UPNM
According to his post-mortem report, Zulfarhan's left ribs were broken and the cause of death was "80% second and third-degree burns" on his body.
Following the autopsy report, the late cadet's father, Zulkarnain Idros, had said that he and his family are considering taking legal action against the UPNM.
On Tuesday, 6 June, the 53-year-old lodged a police report at the Bukit Indah police station. Zulkarnain Idros, a taxi-driver, was quoted by The Malay Mail saying that he was horrified at the magnitude of the wounds inflicted on his son that led to his death.
He has demanded a detailed investigation by police on the whole matter.
Following the Navy cadet's death on 1 June, police had arrested a total of 36 students (32 UPNM students and 4 Universiti Tenaga Nasional students) and had kept them in remand till 8 June
However, at the end of their remand date, the four students from University Tenaga Nasional were released on police bail, lawyer Sukhdave Singh Kashmir Singh, who represented three of the students, was quoted saying by the Malay Mail.
On the other hand, the 32 UPNM students' remand has been extended until 14 June.
Magistrate Sharifah Muhaymin Abdul Khalib issued the order to further remand the 32 UPNM students during a proceeding at the Sepang district police headquarters.
Apart from the extension of their police remand, the 32 UPNM students have been suspended by the order of the Defence Ministry
According to The Star Online, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the 32 officers would be suspended until investigations into the case are completed.
Additionally, the students would be dismissed from the Military Training Academy if investigations reveal that they tried to hide the violent crime from their superiors.
Hishammuddin has also warned action against any superior or staff member of UPNM who was aware of the crime but remained silent
"I am prepared to discuss with the Higher Education Ministry to carry out a reshuffle in the management and administration of UPNM due to what happened," he was quoted saying by The Star Online during his visit to the late cadet's family at their home.
According to Defence Minister Hishammuddin, who visited the late Zulfarhan's parents at their residence on 8 June, he recently found out that he happens to be a distant relative of the family.
Additionally, to investigate the real motive behind the torture and abuse of the late Navy cadet, a Special Investigation Board (SIB) has been formed by the Armed Forces. The SIB will be chaired by Armed Forces chief Jen Tan Sri Mohamed Affandi Mohamed Noor.
The SIB, which would conduct a thorough investigation on the university's cadets and staff members, will report directly to Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.
Hishammuddin, who has pledged to get to the bottom of the incident, was quoted by the New Straits Times saying that, "No one is above the law and nothing will be concealed. We will be transparent with the outcome of investigations."
