The Shah Alam High Court today dismissed an application by Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) sergeant N Tharmendran, who is

charged with abetment in the theft of two F5 jet engines, to cross-examine two RMAF majors for allegedly torturing him during detention.

Judicial commissioner Asmabi Mohamad, when making the decision, said the case was under police investigations and therefore, the application had no relevance to the charge against the RMAF personnel.

She set Nov 25 to hear Tharmendran's main application to suspend or revoke the charge of abetting in the theft of the two jet engines made against him.

Last Oct 1, Tharmendran filed a notice of motion to cross-examine staff officer 1 investigation Major Ismail Omar and staff officer 2 major Norazan Md Amin, both of the RMAF Provost Marshal.

In his affidavit, Tharmendran claimed that he was tortured by an investigation team to obtain a guilty plea from him and this was witnessed by his colleague, Intan Yusof, 46, when she visited him at the jail.

Norazan and Md Amin, in their affidavit, denied the allegation.

Tharmendran was represented by lawyers Latheefa Koya and N.Surendran, while the prosecution was represented by deputy public prosecutor Ishak Mohd Yusof.

On Jan 6, Tharmendran pleaded not guilty to abetting senior airman Mohamad Shukri Mohamad Yusop in the theft of two F5E jet engines at the Material Processing Shed, Matra 1 warehouse, at the air force base in Sungai Besi in December 2007.

He has been released on a RM50,000 bail with one surety.

- Bernama