Six former UPNM students sentenced to death by hanging for Zulfarhan Osman’s murder

KUALA LUMPUR: Six former students of the National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM) were sentenced to death by hanging by the Court of Appeal today for the murder of Naval Cadet Officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain seven years ago.

According to Harian Metro, the six are Muhammad Akmal Zuhairi Azmal, Muhammad Azamuddin Mad Sofi, Muhammad Najib Mohd Razi, Muhammad Afif Najmudin Azahat, Mohamad Shobirin Sabri, and Abdoul Hakeem Mohd Ali, all of whom are now 28 years old.

A panel of three judges led by Datuk Hadhariah Syed Ismail made the unanimous decision after allowing the prosecution’s appeal to reinstate the murder charges against them under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

“The court decided that only one sentence is applicable to the six accused, which is that they must be taken to a place of execution where they will be hanged until death.

“The prosecution’s appeal is allowed, and the 18-year prison sentence is rejected,” said Hadhariah, who was sitting with Mohamed Zaini Mazlan and Datuk Azmi Ariffin.

Previously, the six appellants, who were also respondents in the appeal, were sentenced to 18 years in prison for causing death without intent under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code.

On May 15, the prosecution argued that the actions of the six former students, who tortured and caused 80 percent of their friend Zulfarhan Osman’s body to be burned by a steam iron, were extreme.

Deputy Public Prosecutor K. Mangai argued that evidence showed five of the former students, under the direction of another friend, took turns pressing the iron on the deceased (Zulfarhan) except on his face and the back of his hands, resulting in 90 burn marks that led to his death.

On November 2, 2021, the Kuala Lumpur High Court sentenced the six students to 18 years in prison for being found guilty of causing Zulfarhan’s death without intent.

The 18-year prison sentence under Section 304(a) was handed down by Judge Datuk Azman Abdullah after considering various aspects, including the impact on all parties, particularly the victim’s family.

In addition to the 18-year prison sentence, five of the students, except Mohamad Shobirin, were also sentenced to three years in prison under Section 330 for injuring Zulfarhan, with the sentences running concurrently.

Previously, all six faced charges of murdering Zulfarhan under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides for a mandatory death sentence if convicted.

Meanwhile, 12 other friends who were sentenced to three years in prison were allowed to suspend their prison sentences with a bail of RM7,000.

According to the charges, all of them, who were 21 years old at the time, were accused of committing the offense in two rooms in the Jebat hostel block of the university at Kem Perdana, Sungai Besi, on May 21 and 22, 2017.

In the tragic incident, Zulfarhan was later confirmed dead at Serdang Hospital on June 1, 2017.