Post by : Shakul

Three trainers from the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Reserve Officer Training Unit (Palapes) were charged at the Sessions Court in Kota Tinggi on 27 February 2026 in connection with the death of a university cadet during training last year.

Major Mohd Azmi Abu Bakar, Captain Muhammad Bahaudin Abd Rashid, and Warrant Officer Mohd Norbuang Ghani, all members of the Malaysian Armed Forces, pleaded not guilty to a charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 for common intention.

According to the charge, the three accused allegedly committed acts intended to cause bodily harm likely to result in death, leading to the death of 22-year-old cadet Syamsul Haris Shamsudin. The incident reportedly occurred between 2pm and 3pm on 28 July 2025 at the Ulu Tiram Utara shooting range, within the Army Combat Training Centre in Johor.

The prosecution initially sought bail of RM50,000 per accused, along with the surrender of passports. Following appeals citing financial hardship and long, unblemished service records, the court reduced bail first to RM25,000 and later to RM20,000 each, with one surety. The accused were also ordered to report regularly to their nearest police station.

During mitigation, Major Mohd Azmi told the court that all three had served for over two decades without disciplinary issues and assured the judge they would comply fully with court proceedings. Despite noting the seriousness of the charges, the judge allowed further leniency.

The court fixed 13 April 2026 for the next mention of the case to allow submission of documents, appointment of defence counsel, and the assignment of a watching-brief lawyer for the victim’s family.

Syamsul Haris was initially reported as a sudden death during training. However, following a review of investigation findings, the Attorney General’s Chambers later directed police to reclassify the case, leading to the current charges.

#world news #Global News #Crime