The military police have never used any form of violence or force against the family of Sergeant N. Tharmendran, the Defence Ministry said.

  NONE In a statement, the ministry said a personnel who had gone to Tharmendran's ( left ) home on July 16 had followed the normal procedure in finding the whereabouts of a military officer who had gone absent without leave.

"In fact, our officer did not find the sergeant at his home. Even his (Tharmendran's) father denied that his son was still working with the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).

Following the visit, the officer concerned, Sergeant Japar Salleh, was threatened by Tharmendran's lawyer who told him not to disturb his client again," the statement said.

Japar then lodged a police report explaining the real reason for his visit to Tharmendran's house.

On Jan 6, Tharmendran, 42, pleaded not guilty to abetting Senior Airman Mohamad Shukri Mohamad Yusop, to steal two F5 jet engines at the Material Processing Shed MATRA 1, RMAF base, Sungai Besi on April 30, 2008.

- Bernama