UPNM bullying probe to wrap up on Friday, says Khaled

Investigations into the alleged bullying of a Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) cadet officer will be finalised this Friday, said Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

“The committee in charge, which is made up of Armed Forces officers, will make its decision based on guidelines.

“They will finish that on Friday. The police have sent its report to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), I read that from the media,” he told reporters at a press conference.

He was attending the sending-off ceremony for the Malaysian Battalion (Malbatt) 850-12 as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

Khaled also said termination notices had been issued to the alleged abusers but did not specify whether they have been expelled from UPNM.

Yesterday, Kuala Lumpur police chief Rusdi Mohd Isa said the investigation papers had been sent to the AGC for further instruction.

The investigation was carried out even though the police had yet to receive the medical report, he added.

Burn injuries

On Oct 31, an abuse incident at the university was reported in which a cadet allegedly sustained burn injuries to his chest after a senior student pressed a hot iron against him.

So far, the police have recorded statements from 16 people.

They also seized an iron that was believed to have been used as a tool for the abuse.

This case is particularly unsettling in light of a similar tragedy seven years ago when UPNM cadet Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain died after suffering extensive injuries from 90 incidents of scalding.

Six former UPNM students were then convicted of murder and sentenced to death this July.

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