It is an offence on the part of Royal Malaysian Air Force officer Major Zaidi Ahmad to lodge a police report while wearing his military uniform, a witness told the Military Court today.

Leading Aircraftman Mohd Zunaidy Muchtar Ahmad said this in response to a question from Major Ahmad Azam Soip from the prosecution team.

Ahmad Azam: My learned friend (defence counsel Mohd Hanipa Maidin) said from the beginning that Major Zaidi’s actions (in lodging a police report on the indelible ink being easily washed off) is not an offence, but you disagreed. Can you explain?

Zunaidy: He introduced himself to reporters wearing the Number Three uniform.

Earlier in the hearing, Hanipa asked Zunaidy if he had read Zaidi’s police report, and whether he was sure that Zaidi spoke at a press conference.

Hanipa: Did you read his police report?

Zunaidy: No.

Hanipa: In your statement, did you say that you saw Major Zaidi telling the media, “I will hold a press conference?”

Zunaidy: No.

Hanipa: So I put to you that what is said to be a press conference is merely your assumption.

Zunaidy: (It is based on) my analysis as a spy.

Zunaidy, a detective with the RMAF, testified yesterday on how he posed as a reporter and saw Zaidi showing to the media that the indelible ink on his finger had come off on May 1 last year, shortly after the advanced voting for the 13th general election.

Another witness, Captain Norashikin Mohd Azmi, told the court that Zaidi has been transferred to another position at the Butterworth Air Force Base, which did not exist on record, after he lodged his police report on the issue.

Norashikin is in charge of maintaining records of the officers and personnel at the airbase, where Zaidi served as commanding officer of the No 12 Squadron.

Hanipa asked her to compare Zaidi’s new position as the base’s assistant to the executive officers (penolong pegawai eksekutif pangkalan) to the post he held before.

“Assistant to the executive officers – actually this post is not in the base’s record of positions,” she replied.

[More to follow]