KUALA LUMPUR: Five cadet officers from Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia’s (UPNM) Military Training Academy, who were involved in three recent bullying cases, have been expelled from the university, says the Defence Minister.
Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the five, who were also terminated from the Malaysian Armed Forces, have been ordered to pay compensation to the government.
He said the decision was made during a Malaysian Armed Forces Council meeting on Tuesday, following a review of the recommendations put forward by the training academy.
“All these cadet officers have been ordered to pay compensation to the government, based on the total expenses incurred during their studies,” he said in a statement yesterday, Bernama reported.
He emphasised that these measures are independent of any that may be taken by UPNM or the Attorney General’s Chambers.
In the first case, he explained, Muhammad Salman Mohd Saiful Surash was assaulted by Amirul Iskandar Ahmad Norhanizan, who was found to have pressed a hot iron onto the victim’s chest.
The incident was discovered by the on-duty trainer during a routine body inspection on Oct 28.
An investigation revealed that the perpetrator had physically abused the victim.
As a result, Amirul Iskandar’s appointment as a cadet officer was revoked, his service in the army was terminated, and he was ordered to pay compensation of RM44,600.20 to the government.
He was also charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Nov 8 under Section 324 of the Penal Code.
In the second case, cadet officer Alief Ahsreihan Ahslemy was abused by Izzat Izuddin Mohammad Arif, Muhammad Hidayat Haqimi Mohd Yuslan and Ku Muhammad Irfan Ku Zaimi.
The trio were found to have subjected the victim to various forms of misconduct, including corrective punishment, physical abuse, forced personal tasks and isolation, causing him emotional distress.
They had their cadet officer appointments revoked, their service in the army terminated, and ordered to pay compensation of RM48,452.75, RM19,481.70 and RM44,600.20, respectively.
The third case involved Ammar Hafiy Muhammad Habib, who physically assaulted cadet officer Yeong Kian Rui, resulting in the victim sustaining a “soft tissue injury over the lower back due to trauma”.
The perpetrator’s appointment as a cadet officer was revoked, his service in the army was terminated and he was ordered to pay compensation amounting to RM32,115.95.
Mohamed Khaled expressed hope that this decision would serve as a deterrent to all parties, and help restore and reinforce military values.
Separately, a 25-year-old armed forces cadet died after allegedly being abused while undergoing reserve officers training.
The Armed Forces said that the cadet’s death is being investigated by the Air Force’s Provost Marshal Unit.
