SUSPECTS TO BE HELD LONGER
Remand order for 32 extended by 5 days; 4 released on police bail
THERE was a media frenzy at the district police headquarters here when 36 suspects in connection with the murder of navy cadet Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnian were about to get their remand extension order yesterday.
About 10 journalists and photographers rushed to the police headquarters when they got a tip-off that magistrate Sharifah Muhaymin Abd Khalib had gone to the lock-up about 8am to issue the order.
However, pressmen were not allowed to enter the headquarters and had to wait in the compound under the scorching sun to get the latest development.
Sharifah, who spent almost an hour at the headquarters, issued a five-day remand extension for 32 Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) students while four Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten) undergraduates were released on police bail.
The extension order, which takes effect today, will expire on June 14.
Lawyer Sukhdave Singh, who represented the four Uniten undergraduates, said their families were relieved that the students were released.
Zulfarhan, a third-year student at UPNM died at Serdang Hospital on June 1, allegedly after being assaulted by a large group of students, who suspected that he had stolen a laptop.
According to reports, the 21year-old student was taken to the hospital with burns on his body, believed to be due to a steam iron pressed onto his chest, hands and feet.
The Defence Ministry had formed a special investigation board, chaired by Armed Forces Chief General Tan Sri Mohamed Affandi Mohamed Noor to look into the matter.
The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.