KUALA LUMPUR — July 31, 2019: The 18 students from Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) have been ordered to enter their defence on charges of murdering and injuring cadet officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain two years ago.
Five — Muhammad Akmal Zuhairi, Muhammad Azamuddin Mad Sofi, Muhammad Najib Mohd. Razi, Muhammad Afif Najmudin Azahat and Mohamad Shobirin Sabri — are charged with murder while Abdoul Hakeem Mohd. Ali is charged with abetting the murder.
They allegedly committed the offence on campus on May 22, 2017.
The six and 12 others were also ordered to enter their defence on charges of injuring Zulfarhan.
The 12 are Mohd. Hafiz Fauzan Ismail, Mohamad Lukhmanul Hakim Mohd. Zain, Ahmad Shafwan Berdal, Muhammad Amirul Asraff Mala, Luqman Hakim Shamsuri, Muhammad Sufi Mohd. Mustapha, Noriznan Izzairi Noor Azhar, Muhamad Ashraf Abdullah, Muhammad Danial Firdaus Azmir , Muhammad Hasif Ismail, Muhammad Adib Iman Fuad Adi Sany and Mohamad Syazwan Musa.
They are charged with voluntarily causing hurt to Zulfarhan for the purpose of forcing him to admit to the alleged theft of a laptop. The court however acquitted and discharged Muhammad Akmal Akif Alias of a charge of injuring Zulfarhan.
Judge Datuk Azman Abdullah set aside several days from October to December for the defence proceedings.
A total of 29 witnesses were called, including two eyewitnesses.
Zulfarhan died at the Serdang Hospital on June 1, 2017, believed to have been a result of abuse. He was reported to have suffered burns on the chest, arms and legs after being tortured with a steam iron. — Bernama
