THE death sentence handed down by the Court of Appeal to six former students of the National Defence University (UPNM) for the murder of naval cadet officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain seven years ago is appropriate and just, said the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF).

MCPF senior vice-chairman Ayub Yaakob stated that torturing someone to death is a blatant violation of human norms, especially when perpetrated by educated individuals.

In a statement, the MCPF noted that taking a human life is prohibited in Islam.

“The MCPF does not agree with the objection raised by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) regarding the death sentence imposed on the six.

“Suhakam needs to understand that although the government has abolished the mandatory death penalty for murder and drug trafficking cases, judges still have the authority and discretion to impose the death penalty in certain cases,” said Ayub.

Suhakam had earlier objected to the death penalty for the six former students, arguing that such a punishment is neither fair nor effective.

The human rights watchdog also urged the government to reconsider the implementation of the death penalty and work towards a more equitable and humane justice system for all.

The Putrajaya Court of Appeal recently imposed the death sentence on the six former UPNM students convicted of murdering Zulfarhan seven years ago.

The three-member bench comprising Justices Datuk Hadhariah Syed Ismail, Mohamed Zaini Mazlan, and Datuk Azmi Ariffin unanimously decided to allow the prosecution’s appeal to reinstate the charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code and set aside the previous 18-year jail sentence.

Hadhariah, who chaired the panel, said the death sentence was warranted given the cruelty of the actions of Akmal Zuhairi Azmal, Azamuddin Sofi, Najib Razi, Afif Najmudin Azahat, Shobirin Sabri, and Hakeem Ali, all aged 28.

On June 1, 2017, at Serdang Hospital, Zulfarhan died of injuries caused by a steam iron, which left burns on 80% of his body.

The court had earlier convicted the six men of murdering Zulfarhan at UPNM’s Jebat hostel on May 22, 2017.

The High Court in 2021 had tried the six for murder but reduced their charge to culpable homicide not amounting to murder and sentenced them to 18 years in prison.

The prosecution later sought the death penalty for the six accused as a deterrent to bullying and extreme abuse. – 27 July 2024.