UPNM student charged with stomping on cadet with spike boots

Another Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) student was charged in the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court over the latest bullying incident at the higher education institution.

Mohd Adil Mat Awang Ghani, 22, pleaded not guilty to causing hurt to fellow cadet Muhammad Haziq Iqbal Ahmad Rashidi, 19, by stomping on the victim's stomach with spike boots.

The third-year student allegedly committed the offence against the second-year student at UPNM’s military training academy at Sungai Besi camp in Cheras around 10.45pm on Oct 21.

Under Section 323 of the Penal Code, Adil may be jailed for up to a year, fined not more than RM2,000, or slapped with both sentences.

During open-court proceedings today, deputy public prosecutor Mohd Sabri Othman urged the criminal court to impose bail at RM10,000 in one surety.

The prosecutor also sought bail terms of not disturbing the alleged victim and prosecution witnesses, who comprise UPNM officials and the accused's trainer.

Sabri said the bail should be set at RM10,000 as the case involves an accused who was trained to be disciplined and abide by his duty to society and the nation.

However, a counsel from Legal Aid pleaded for bail to be set lower as bail is only meant to ensure court attendance and not to punish the accused, who has not even been found guilty.

Magistrate Noorelynna Hanim Abd Halim then allowed bail at RM5,000 in one surety.

She ordered the accused not to contact the alleged victim and prosecution witnesses.

The magistrate also set Feb 10 for mention of the case.

In the spotlight

UPNM was in the spotlight again recently as repeated cases of bullying and violence resulting in serious injuries were reported in the institution, prompting the Defence Ministry to decide to punish those involved severely.

On Nov 8 before the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court, UPNM student Amirul Iskandar Norhanizan, 22, claimed trial for causing hurt with a dangerous weapon against Muhammad Salman Mohd Saiful Surash, 20.

The recent cases arose seven years after the brutal bullying and murder of UPNM navy cadet Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain involving a hot iron.

Zulfarhan died on June 1, 2017, at Serdang Hospital due to injuries from 90 instances of steam ironing, which left scalding burns on 80 percent of his body.

The 21-year-old was allegedly subjected to multiple assaults over his refusal to confess to stealing a laptop belonging to another student at the public university’s dorm in Kuala Lumpur between May 21 and 22 that year.

Following the incident, six former UPNM students were convicted for Zulfarhan’s murder and given the death sentence.

The six were Muhammad Akmal Zuhairi Azmal, Muhammad Azamuddin Mad Sofi, Muhammad Najib Mohd Razi, Muhammad Afif Najmudin Azahat, Mohamad Shobirin Sabri, and Abdoul Hakeem Mohd Ali.

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