National Service trainee charged with murder

A 17-year-old National Service trainee was today charged at the Pekan Magistrate’s Court with the murder of fellow trainee Muhammad Suhaimi Norhamidi at the Pinggiran Pelangi camp, Muadzam Shah near Rompin.

Five other trainees were charged with causing hurt to Muhammad Suhaimi during the closed proceeding.

No plea was recorded from the murder accused, who cannot be named being under-18.

He was charged with killing Muhammad Suhaimi at the Pinggiran Pelangi camp's L1C and L2C dormitories between 1.30pm and 10.30pm on September 22.

Magistrate Mohamed Ruhizat Abdullah fixed December 11 for mention of his case.

The murder charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code carries the mandatory death sentence.

Muhammad Syafiq Izzat Roslan, 18, Mohd Nazeri Mustafa, 21, both claimed trial to a charge of voluntarily causing hurt to Muhammad Suhaimi at the camp's L2C dormitory at 10.30pm on September 22.

The magistrate set bail at RM3,000 each and fixed November 13 for mention and December 11 and 12 for trial.

A similar charge was brought against Mohd Firhan Hafizi Ismail, 23, and two 17-year-olds.

Bail for the trio was set at RM3,000 each and their trial dates were fixed for December 18 and 19.

The charge of voluntarily causing hurt carries a sentence of up to a year’s jail or a fine of up to RM2,000, or both upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Syamsul Kahar Ahmad Nadri appeared for the Attorney General’s Chambers while Osman Abdullah and Noor Adilah Zarian represented the five charged with causing hurt.

The murder accused was represented by Mohd Farid Abd Aziz.

On September 23, Muhammad Suhaimi's body was found lying motionless on the bathroom floor of the hostel at the Pinggiran Pelangi camp.

The camp commandant rushed Muhammad Suhaimi to the Muadzam Shah Hospital but he died without regaining consciousness.

A post-mortem revealed that Muhammad Suhaimi, from Kerdau near Temerloh, had died of internal bleeding in the head due to blunt trauma.

Police later arrested six people to facilitate investigations.