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AGC orders murder probe for UTM cadet's death
The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) has directed that the death of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) cadet Syamsul Haris Shamsuddin be probed as a murder case.
The AGC determined the matter following a briefing today on the findings of an investigation report opened by the police into the 22-year-old’s death.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) has directed that the death of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) cadet Syamsul Haris Shamsuddin be probed as a murder case.
The AGC determined the matter following a briefing today on the findings of an investigation report opened by the police into the 22-year-old’s death.
“After being briefed and reviewing the results of the investigation report, the AGC has ordered that (probes into) the death be classified under Section 302 of the Penal Code for further investigations by the police,” it said in a statement today.
In a separate statement on the matter, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director M Kumar said investigations are ongoing to identify individuals involved in or responsible for Syamsul’s death.
Such processes, Kumar said, are being carried out before the investigation papers are referred back to the AGC for further instruction, in line with Article 145 of the Federal Constitution.
“While the police completes its investigation, the public is reminded not to speculate on this case in order to uphold the principles of criminal justice in the country,” he added.
Foul play
The Kota Tinggi district police headquarters had on July 28 initiated a sudden death report over Syamsul’s death.
On Aug 27, however, the CID’s Classified Crime Investigation Unit had taken over the investigation following a Shah Alam High Court order allowing the deceased’s family’s notice of motion for an exhumation and a second post-mortem.
Last Friday (Nov 28), Syamsul’s family lawyer, Naran Singh, said forensic findings from Syamsul’s second autopsy confirmed that his cause of death was a traumatic neck injury, sustained when he was still alive.
Syamsul died at the Kota Tinggi Hospital in Johor on July 28 after undergoing a Reserve Officers Training Unit (Rotu) exercise in Ulu Tiram.
His mother, Ummu Haiman Bee Daulatgun, had voiced concerns about potential foul play after seeing bruises and bloodied eyes on her son’s body before he was buried, which led to her lodging a police report.
Johor deputy police chief Abdul Latiff Mehat said on Aug 1 that the police were investigating Syamsul’s death.
The next day, however, Kota Tinggi district police chief Yusof Othman said no criminal element had been found in the case, while Defence Minister Khaled Nordin said his ministry had set up a committee to investigate Syamsul’s death.
On Aug 13, Khaled said the committee found no evidence of abuse in Syamsul’s death, affirming that testimonies from more than 30 witnesses, including trainees and instructors, confirmed that the Rotu training followed prescribed procedures.
Minister must explain ‘no abuse’ remark
When contacted today, Naran said Syamsul’s family is overwhelmed with relief and joy following the AGC’s order for his death to be investigated for murder.
He also credited judicial commissioner Bhupindar Singh Gurcharan Singh Preet, who on Aug 26 allowed Ummu’s application for Syamsul’s body to be exhumed and for a second post-mortem.
“Without him, we would not be here as his order has led to this development,” Naran said.
The lawyer also took aim at Khaled over the latter’s claim that no abuse was involved in Syamsul’s death, asserting that the minister should be “made to answer” for his assertion following the AGC’s order.
On Sept 18, Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar said any decision on whether an inquest will be held into Syamsul’s death will be made after receiving a full report from the police, including the hospital’s report on the second post-mortem, which has since been completed.
On Oct 30, Ummu filed another legal action against the government, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad and four others in an attempt to get a copy of the first post-mortem report.
The Shah Alam High Court has fixed Dec 5 for the deputy public prosecutor to inform the court of their instruction from the AGC regarding the first post-mortem report.
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