EXPLAINED: Why 6 Students Were Sentenced to Death by Hanging for a “Bullying” Case

The tragic case of Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain, a former student at Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM), has led to the death sentences of six individuals. This incident, characterized by severe torture and premeditation, shows the grave consequences of bullying and violence.

Background of the Case

Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain, born November 29, 1996, was brutally abused by his peers after being accused of stealing a laptop. On May 21 and 22, 2017, despite his denials, he was subjected to severe torture with a hot steam iron and beaten, resulting in burns covering 80% of his body. The violence was compounded by neglect, as he was denied necessary medical care.

Details of the Abuse

Court documents and reports reveal that Zulfarhan endured extensive torture over two days in May 2017. Key aspects of the abuse included:

Physical Abuse: Zulfarhan was subjected to severe physical violence, including repeated beatings, kicks, and punches, causing multiple injuries.
Burns and Scalding: A significant portion of the torture involved a hot steam iron, which was pressed onto Zulfarhan’s body, resulting in approximately 90 burn wounds—59 second-degree and 29 third-degree burns—covering about 80% of his body. The burn patterns indicated repeated and deliberate application.
Extreme Neglect: After the abuse, Zulfarhan was confined in a locked room for several days, worsening his condition. The perpetrators avoided seeking medical treatment to prevent detection.

Zulfarhan succumbed to his injuries on June 1, 2017, due to complications from severe burns and untreated injuries.

Chronology of Events

May 20, 2017: Accusation of laptop theft leads to harassment.
May 21-23, 2017: Zulfarhan was tortured, and sustained extensive injuries.
May 24, 2017: He received inadequate medical treatment at a local clinic.
May 31, 2017: Symptoms worsened, and hospitalization is advised but ignored.
June 1, 2017: Zulfarhan dies due to the severity of his injuries.

Initial Sentencing and Appeal

Initially, in November 2021, the High Court convicted the six students—Muhammad Akmal Zuhairi Azmal, Abdoul Hakeem Mohd Ali, Muhammad Najib Mohd Razi, Muhammad Azamuddin Mad Sofi, Muhammad Afif Najmudin Azahat, and Mohamad Shobirin Sabri—under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code for culpable homicide. They were sentenced to 18 years in prison.

A culpable homicide occurs when someone causes another person’s death through their actions, which are deemed blameworthy, but without intending to kill. It is considered a serious crime but is less severe than murder. Additionally, twelve others received three-year sentences for causing hurt to extort a confession.

However, on July 23, 2024, the Court of Appeal of Malaysia reclassified the case as murder due to its extreme brutality. The six cadets were then sentenced to death by hanging. This decision marked a significant shift from the initial sentencing.

Legal Justification for the Death Penalty

The final judgment highlighted several key points for the sentencing:

Severity of Torture: The court highlighted the deliberate and severe burns inflicted on Zulfarhan as especially heinous. The forensic expert’s testimony confirmed that these severe burns were sufficient to cause death
Neglect and Deception: Efforts to hide the abuse and avoid medical treatment worsened the crime. The failure to seek timely medical help, despite the victim’s severe injuries, showed a blatant disregard for his life and well-being.
Lack of Remorse: The perpetrators showed no real remorse for their actions. The court viewed this lack of genuine remorse as a key factor in the severe sentence, aiming to deter similar behavior in the future.

Other Notable Cases of Military Mistreatment

Other cases include:

Asrup bin Raidin (2013): A member of The Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM). He died during swimming training. However, his death became controversial as images showed bruises and burn marks, allegedly from cigarette butts.

J. Soosaimanicckam (2018): Was A Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) cadet officer. He passed away under suspicious circumstances while training at the KDSI Navy Base, with allegations of being targeted by officers.

Amirul Nashriq (2018): Was a UPNM student who died with unexplained bruises, initially attributed to an accident, but raised concerns after sending a photo shortly before his death.

Abdul Aziz (2020): A member of the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), who had confided to his family about frequent bullying in camp, passed away in the ICU at Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital (HSNI). His death occurred on August 29, 2020, after he allegedly fell from the third floor of a residential building at a military camp in Batu Pahat, Johor.

Muhammad Faiz Harun (2020): A member of the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM). Died under suspicious circumstances, with calls for a thorough investigation.

Unnamed TLDM Cadet (2-3 Years Ago): Found beaten to death after fleeing severe bullying.

For more details, read more here and watch the video below for a better understanding of the late Zulfarhan’s case:

@aforarwind

INHUMANE! 🙏🏽 there have been far too many cases of violent bullying these past few years in all forms, including cyber and physical assault, and it is devastating to see how the majority of these bullies are really just young boys and girls with so much potential. And often, it is their anger that gets the worst of them. Please never stop educating the people you love. It really begins at home, from the people we surround ourselves with to the conversations we have on a daily basis.

♬ original sound – Arwind Kumar 🇲🇾 – Arwind Kumar 🇲🇾