Court of Appeal Reinstates Death Penalty on 6 Ex-UPNM Students for Murder of Zulfarhan Osman in 2017

In May 2017, our country was rocked by the news that a young Marine Cadet Officer and student at the National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM), Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain, was found dead after being tortured by his fellow university mates.

The case is still ongoing to this day and today, a pivotal decision was made by the Court of Appeal, whereby 6 former UPNM cadets have been sentenced to death for the murder of the victim.

Court of Appeal reinstated Section 302 of the Penal Code and sentenced all 6 accused to death

According to Malaysian reporter Mohd Redzuan Abdul Manap on X (formerly Twitter) who’s covering the trial, the Court of Appeal has set aside the decision by the High Court in November 2021 which sentenced the 6 accused to 18 years in prison under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code for causing death by negligence.

Instead, the Court of Appeal today reinstated the murder charge and punishment under Section 302 of the Penal Code and sentenced all 6 accused to death.

#TERKINI Mahkamah Rayuan menjatuhkan hukuman gantung sampai mati ke atas enam bekas penuntut UPNM kerana membunuh Pegawai Kadet Laut Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain tujuh tahun lepas.#BernamaNews pic.twitter.com/8b9SlJOgiD

— BERNAMA (@bernamadotcom) July 23, 2024

According to BERNAMA, the 6 accused 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.

Justice Hadhariah Syed Ismail in the judgment asserted that the 3-judge panel unanimously found that the High Court had erred in amending the charge to Section 304(a) of the Penal Code previously and reinstated Section 302.

She asserted,

“All 6 accused persons shall be taken to the gallows where they will be hung to death,”

Zulfarhan’s parents are thankful for the justice being served

Following the judgment, the parents of the victim expressed their gratitude for the decision outside of the court by performing the ‘Sujud Syukur‘ or the prostration of gratitude to God.

Ibu bapa kepada Pegawai Kadet Laut, Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain sujud syukur selepas Mahkamah Rayuan menjatuhkan hukuman gantung sampai mati terhadap enam bekas penuntut UPNM kerana didapati bersalah membunuh anak mereka.@BuletinTV3 pic.twitter.com/D3zan1tOOq

— Wan Zairul Azri @ Putrajaya (@wan_zNewsMPB) July 23, 2024

However, the case is still not over as all 6 accused can still appeal the Court of Appeal’s decision to the Federal Court.

So, what do you guys think of the Court of Appeal’s decision? Share your thoughts with us in the comments. 

Also read: M’sians Condemn Lawyer for Saying Bullies are FORCED to Work Normal Jobs When Their Victim is Dead