Dead cadet given 'motivation', not punished, ex-Navy trainer says

Deceased Navy cadet J Soosaimanicckam was never punished and was given “motivation” to complete his physical training, the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court heard.

Ex-Navy cadet training programme coordinator Muhammad Faiz Mohamed Zanila was testifying against the deceased family’s lawsuit over Soosaimanicckam’s death during training six years ago.

Faiz said there was no element of punishment whenever the cadet was split from the main exercise group for not being able to complete a physical exercise routine at the KD Sultan Idris 1 camp in Lumut, Perak, on May 19, 2018.

The former coordinator made clear his disagreement during cross-examination by the family’s lead counsel Latheefa Koya.

Latheefa: So any trainee unable to complete his training would be separated from the main trainee group?

Faiz: Yes.

Latheefa: This is to punish?

Faiz: I disagree. In physical exercise training, all trainees have differing abilities. For example, some can do 20 pushups while a few only five pushups. Trainees able to do only five pushups are not able to keep up with the main group able to do 20 pushups, so we separate them to train them to be able to complete 20 pushups.

Latheefa: This process of separating them, is that not penalising?

Faiz: In the military, we give motivation. We push them to complete their (training) tasks. We give them motivation to complete the tasks. It is not punishment.

The witness for the Navy then simulated a motivational act, saying, “Come on guys, you can do it. If you cannot do, complete the first five”.

Alleged victim of ragging

Faiz, alongside the Royal Malaysian Navy and the government, is being sued by Soosaimanicckam’s family over alleged negligence causing his death at the training camp on May 19, 2018.

In seeking compensation, the deceased’s family contended he was a victim of ragging by Navy trainers after reporting to the naval base to undergo officer qualification training on May 12, 2018.

The family claimed that the 27-year-old’s request to be treated at a hospital for leptospirosis, a bacterial infection, was refused.

In the course of the trial, the civil court heard testimony that a Navy training officer sat on the deceased’s abdominal region and slapped him repeatedly during training.

On May 19, 2018, he was confirmed dead at the Lumut Military Hospital in Perak.

In a media statement, the Navy said the graduate cadet officer suffered chest pain and shortness of breath at his hostel after undergoing his daily training and was sent to the hospital for treatment.

The doctor on duty was said to have given respiratory support and treatment to the victim. However, he was pronounced dead at 1.45pm.

Then Manjung district police chief Muhammad Hanif Othman said the forensic medical report ruled out foul play and that Soosaimanicckam died of fluid in the lungs. The case was classified as sudden death.

However, the Ipoh High Court yesterday ruled that Soosaimanicckam died due to homicide, thus quashing an earlier open verdict by the Coroner’s Court over the death.

The civil suit hearing before Sessions Court judge Idah Ismail will resume on Thursday (Aug 1).

Senior federal counsel Nur Ezdiani Roleb and Federal Counsel Abdul Hakim Abdul Karim appeared for the government.

Navy cadet could have lived if treated early: Forensic pathologist

Navy cadet death was homicide: High Court

Officers targeted deceased cadet during training, witness says

Witness: Navy training officer sat on cadet's abdomen, slapped him