KUALA LUMPUR: There was a tense atmosphere in the High Court today when a prosecution witness recounted how Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) cadet officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain, who was allegedly murdered, was tortured by more than 10 students last year.
Zulfarhan’s mother Hawa Osman who sat at the public gallery during the proceedings could not hold back her tears when Ahmad Senabil Mohamad testified as the 24th prosecution witness.
Senabil told the court that he had lodged a police report two weeks ago when one of the accused, Muhammad Najib Mohd Razi’s father, a police officer stationed in Ipoh, Perak, approached him and told him to give false statement during the trial.
The 22-year-old, who was a human resource undergraduate, said he was in the room when Zulfarhan was beaten and burnt with a steam iron by several other cadets due to dispute over a laptop.
“On the night of May 22, 2017, about 12am, Abdoul Hakeem Mohd Ali ‘investigated’ Zulfarhan about the missing laptop before punching him several times as he was not satisfied with the answer.
“Abdoul Hakeem then told Zulfarhan to take off his pants before continuing to beat him together with a group of students – Muhamad Ashraf Abdullah, Ahmad Shafwan Berdal, Noriznan Izzairi Noor Azhar, Muhammad Azamuddin Mad Sofi, Najib, Muhammad Akmal Zuhairi Azmal, Muhammad Adib Iman Fuad Adi Sany, Muhammad Sufi Mohd Mustapha and several others.
“The group continued to beat Zulfarhan with hanger, rubber shoe, and wood until 3.30am before they left the scene except myself, Syafiq, Abdoul Hakeem, Azamuddin, Najib, Afif, and Akmal.
“Suddenly, Akmal armed with the steam iron, placed it on Zulfarhan’s feet and body,” he said during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Othman Abdullah.
He said Zulfarhan, with his arm and feet tied, had screamed ‘Tolong’ (help) and ‘Panas’ (hot) when the steam iron was placed on his body by Akmal, Shobirin, Azamuddin, Najib, and Afif with Abdoul Hakeem ‘interrogating’ Zulfarhan.
“Zulfarhan was abused until 6am before he was tied to the nearby table before the group continue their torture and beating,” he said, adding that he and Syafiq did not participate in the beating.
Senabil said he could not do anything to help Zulfarhan as he was afraid that the group would beat him too.
“After the abuse, Abdoul Hakeem told Akmal that Zulfarhan did not confess to the theft and ordered the group to stop the torture and release the victim.
“He told Akmal to clean the room as it was smeared with sweat and Zulfarhan’s blood. He also told Akmal to ‘take care’ of Zulfarhan.
“I did not see any burn remarks on Zulfarhan’s body that day,” he said.
Senabil said he did not report the incident to the university as he was afraid Zulfarhan and the rest would be expelled from the institution.
Zulfarhan, a third year student, died on June 1 last year at the Serdang Hospital, due to severe injuries.
Muhammad Akmal, Muhammad Azamuddin, Afif Najmudin, Muhammad Najib, and Mohamad Shobirin are jointly charged with murdering Zulfarhan; while Abodul Hakeem is charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
All six face the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
The six and 13 other students, all aged 22, also pleaded not guilty to voluntarily causing grievous hurt to Zulfarhan with the intention of extracting a confession from Zulfarhan for allegedly stealing a laptop.
The offence was allegedly committed at room 04-10 Jebat Hostel Block, UPNM, between 2.30am and 5.30am on May 21 and in the same room between 1.30am and 4.30am on May 22.
The accused were represented by counsel Amer Hamzah, Datuk Ranjit Singh Dhillon, Zamri Idrus, Mohd Fadly Hashim, AG Kalidas, Datuk Hazizah Kassim, Datuk Seri M Ramachelvam and Azizul Shariman.
Zulfarhan was found with burn marks and bruises in an apartment in Serdang about 8pm on June 1, and was pronounced dead at about 10pm at the Serdan g Hospital.
The trial continues on Aug 16 before Judge Datuk Azman Abdullah.
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