The air force said today it had expelled 14 trainees who are facing trial accused of torturing a new recruit by making him drink his own vomit and stand on nails.

The 14 students at the Royal Malaysian Air Force training college in Kepala Batas, Kedah, were charged in May with abusing 20-year-old Muhammad Hazim Ahmad Azman.

The air force said the Armed Forces Council made the decision to sack the senior trainees, aged between 19 and 22, at a meeting earlier this week.

"The decision was made to protect the credibility and the integrity of the Armed Forces and the Royal Malaysian Air Force," it said in a statement released today.

Made to drink own vomit

Accusations against the 14 offenders include forcing Hazim, an aeronautical engineering student, to stand on nails fixed to a piece of wood and pouring hot water over him. Many of the actions were captured on videotape.

The senior trainees also reportedly made Hazim drink his own vomit and crawl on his knuckles - actions described by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Najib Razak as "unforgivable."

The incident was made public in February when Hazim's father filed a police complaint after seeing both digital pictures and video footage taken by one of the recruit's friends.

Although physical abuse or ragging is banned by the air force, such incidents occur frequently between senior and junior trainees, officials have said in reports.