23/08/2025

SATURDAY | AUG 23, 2025

5

College students found guilty of murdering peer

Pilots safely eject before fighter jet crash KUANTAN: Two Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) officers piloting an F/A-18D Hornet fighter jet successfully executed emergency ejection procedures before the aircraft crashed at the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Airport (Kuantan Air Base) Thursday night. RMAF chief Datuk Seri Muhamad Norazlan Aris said the pilot, Mejar Mohamad Azhar Alang Kamarudin, 34, sustained back injuries and suffered minor burns to his left heel, while the co-pilot, Weapons Systems officer Kapt Mohamad Izzuddin Mohamad Salleh, 28, escaped with only bruises to several parts of his body. “Both officers were initially treated at the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital and were discharged at 2am yesterday. They are now recuperating at the Armed Forces Hospital. “I visited the crash site to get a full briefing on the incident and to extend moral support to both officers,” he told a press conference at the air base on Thursday. He said the crash occurred during a routine night flying training exercise. He added that the airport, also known as Kuantan Air Base, has been temporarily closed to facilitate a comprehensive cleanup operation dubbed “Mega Sweep.” “We have deployed personnel to comb every inch of the runway. Any foreign objects or debris are being collected to ensure the area is fully cleared.” He also said the RMAF has formed an official board of inquiry to investigate the cause of the crash. “The investigation team will provide a preliminary report as soon as possible. “Typically, such reports will be completed within 14 days.” Muhamad Norazlan said RMAF investigators would examine video footage of the crash from various angles to ascertain alleged causes, including potential bird strikes, foreign object debris and possible engine failure. “The aircraft is equipped with a data collector system similar to a black box. We will analyse the data to determine what led to the crash. “Until the cause is determined, all F/A-18D Hornet flights have been temporarily suspended.” – Bernama Statements recorded over attack on Rafizi’s son KUALA LUMPUR: Police have recorded statements from 19 individuals to assist in an investigation into the assault case involving the son of former PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli at a shopping mall in Putrajaya on Aug 13. IGP Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail said the statements were taken from Rafizi’s family members, driver, employees as well as other witnesses to facilitate the investigation. “Additionally, police have obtained and are reviewing CCTV footage from the scene of the incident,” he said at a press conference at Bukit Aman yesterday. He also said police are awaiting a chemical report from the hospital regarding the fluid that was injected into Rafizi’s son. He added that the 12-year-old boy is currently in stable condition, with doctors continuing to monitor his health. On Rafizi’s claim that his wife had received threatening messages, Mohd Khalid said investigations found that the phone number used was registered under a foreign national, and police are working to identify the individual involved. Recently, the media reported that the former economy minister’s son was assaulted at about 2pm in the passenger pick-up and drop-off area of a shopping mall in Putrajaya. Rafizi alleged that the attack was carried out by two men dressed in black and wearing helmets on a motorcycle, one of whom allegedly grabbed his son before stabbing him with a syringe. – Bernama

TAWAU: The High Court yesterday found 13 Lahad Datu Vocational College male students guilty of causing the death of fellow student Mohamad Nazmie Aizzat Mohd Narul Azwan, 17, last year. Judge Datuk Duncan Sikodol ruled the teenagers guilty under Section 302 of the Penal Code after finding the prosecution had proven the case beyond reasonable doubt. He fixed Aug 28 for sentencing, pending behavioural reports from the Lahad Datu Social Welfare Department as required under Section 90(12) of the Child Act 2001, Bernama reported. “At the close of the defence, it is clear that the explanations offered, ranging from total denial, alibi, partial admission and shifting blame to a non-accused student, are either inconsistent with the evidence, contradicted by independent witnesses or inherently improbable. “Based on the evaluation of the evidence as a whole, the court is satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the 13 accused, acting o Sentencing fixed for Aug 28, pending behavioural reports from welfare department

went no further than suggesting a possibility, not a probability and certainty. For these reasons, the court finds that the fatal assault was the product of a shared common intention and the defences advanced are without merit.” The prosecution team comprised DPPs Nur Nisla Abdul Latif, Ng Juhn Tao and Batrisyia Mohd Khusri. Eight of the 13 teenagers were represented by lawyers Datuk Ram Singh, Kamarudin Mohmad Chinki and Chen Wen Jye, while the other five were represented by lawyers Mohamed Zairi Zainal Abidin, Abdul Ghani Zelika, Vivian Thien, Jhesseny P. Kang and Kusni Ambotuwo. On Feb 28, Duncan ordered the 13 teenagers to enter their defence on the charge of murdering Mohamad Nazmie Aizzat in the dormitory rooms 7 Resak and 5 Belian at the Lahad Datu Vocational College, between 9pm on March 21 and 7.38am on March 22, 2024. They were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, read together with Section 34 of the same Code, which carries the death penalty, or up to 40 years’ imprisonment and not more than 12 strokes of the cane. The defence proceedings began on March 10, with 18 witnesses, including all 13 accused, called to testify. The prosecution opened its case on Nov 19, 2024, calling 25 witnesses.

in concert and sharing a common intention, caused the death of the deceased in circumstances that fall within Section 300(c). The prosecution has discharged its burden.” He said the suggestion by the defence that the accused merely intended to teach the deceased a lesson and did not know the injuries would, in the ordinary course of nature, cause death and therefore fall under Section 299 of the Penal Code, is equally without basis. He also said under Section 300(c) of the Penal Code, the question was not whether there was an intention to kill, but whether bodily injuries were intentionally inflicted that were sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death. “The medical evidence clearly established that they were. The defence of provocation is also untenable. This was not a sudden loss of self-control, but a prolonged and repeated assault.” Duncan also dismissed a suggestion by the defence that Mohamad Nazmie Aizzat might have survived if he had been given immediate medical attention, on the basis that expert testimonies did not confirm this as a certainty, but only a possibility. “The fifth prosecution witness, Dr Dzureena Abdul Multalib, did acknowledge during cross-examination that survival was a possibility, if the deceased had received timely and aggressive medical treatment. “Her evidence as a pathologist, in my view,

The 13 teenagers could face the death penalty, or up to 40 years imprisonment and not more than 12 strokes of the cane. – BERNAMAPIC

Umno Youth chief claims trial to public alarm charge BUKIT MERTAJAM: Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh pleaded not guilty at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday to a charge of making statements likely to cause fear or alarm to the public. The prosecution proposed bail of RM10,000. police to take action against Muhamad Akmal for not following a police order to not organise the gathering.

However, Aizat requested a reduction to RM2,000, citing his client’s responsibilities as both a doctor and elected representative, as well as his duty to support a wife and two young children. The court allowed bail of RM5,000 in one surety and fixed Sept 22 for document submission. On Aug 14, Penang DAP lodged a police report against Muhamad Akmal for holding an illegal gathering in Kepala Batas. He is said to have led about 200 people in a protest at a hardware shop that hung the Jalur Gemilang upside-down. He claimed he only wanted to send a message to the proprietors about respecting the national flag. Penang DAP chairman Steven Sim urged

“Police should take action to send a message that such acts of provocation will not be tolerated in Malaysia, especially during the Merdeka month, which should promote unity, not division.” Earlier, IGP Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail requested for the gathering to be called off. “To safeguard the safety of the local community and to prevent any form of unhealthy confrontation between opposing groups, police (had advised) all those involved to cancel the planned gathering.” The shop owner, 59, who was arrested and probed over the incident, said it was an “unforced error” while measuring the flagpole, and that he had corrected the mistake. – Bernama

Muhamad Akmal, who is also Merlimau state assemblyman, entered the plea after the charge was read out to him before Magistrate Nurul Rashidah Mohd Akit. According to the charge, the accused allegedly made a statement via a social media post at 3pm on Aug 11 that could have caused public fear and alarm. State prosecution director Datuk Mohd Nordin Ismail presented the case under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both. Muhamad Akmal was represented by a legal team led by Aizat Azam.