N Surendran, the lawyer for former Royal Malaysian Air Force Sergeant N Tharmendran, who was jointly charged with the theft of two jet engines, has been threatened with criminal proceedings by the RMAF.  

According to NGO Lawyers for Liberty representative Latheefa Koya, the RMAF had threatened him with abetting a deserter under section 135 and 136 of the Penal Code.

NONE This is because the RMAF claims that Thamendran did not end his service on May 25, 2010, as claimed, and that his service contract will only terminate on May 28, 2011.

In a letter sent to Surendran ( left ) yesterday, the RMAF gave the lawyer seven days to advice Tharmendran to surrender himself to any RMAF unit, or face prosecution.

“Members of the Malaysian Bar do not take instructions from the Armed Forces as to what to advise their clients.

“This unlawful threat and demand against Surendran must be immediately withdrawn and the Defence Minister must answer...to the public and the Bar,” said Latheefa, who is also on the defence team.

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.