Minister: 13 UPNM students allowed to resume studies

KUALA LUMPUR: All 13 Malaysian National Defence University (UPNM) students, who were released on bail until the re-mention of the case of voluntarily causing hurt to navy cadet officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain, will be allowed to resume their studies at the university.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh (pic) said the decision was made by UPNM to give the students the opportunity to continue their courses until the court made a decision on the charges against them.

"The 13 students who were released are still UPNM students and they should be treated as such.

"All of them will be given counselling to overcome their emotional disorders and trauma if any," he said after attending a breaking of fast with the National Professors Council (MPN) here Friday.

The victim, Zulfarhan Osman, 21, died at the Serdang Hospital on June 1 after he was allegedly abused over a laptop theft on May 22.

Following the case, the 13 students, all aged 21, were brought to court on June 14 to face charges under Section 330 of the Penal Code read together with Section 34 which provides for a jail term of seven years and liable to be fined, upon conviction.

Five other UPNM students were charged with the alleged murder of the final-year UPNM navy cadet officer. They face the mandatory death sentence if convicted. - Bernama