Bomoh’s unfounded claim killed my son, says navy cadet’s dad

 

Zulkarnain Idros still cannot come to terms with the two-day torture of his son. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The father of navy cadet Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain has pinned the blame for his son’s death on the bomoh who accused him of stealing a laptop.

“My son is the victim of an accusation,” said Zulkarnain Idros. “The bomoh took a stab in the dark. He had no proof, but my son’s name popped up.”

Zulfarhan, a student at the National Defence University (UPNM), died after suffering 90 burn wounds from a hot steam iron. He was attacked by a group of students who believed the bomoh’s claim.

During the murder trial in May 2018, bomoh Abdullah Md Seh told the court he received signs that Zulfarhan had stolen the laptop. He said he saw visions of Zulfarhan’s name and that the signs were from his own intuition.

Abdullah is the father of one of the six UPNM students who were charged with the murder.

On Nov 2, the Kuala Lumpur High Court sentenced the six to 18 years in jail for causing Zulfarhan’s death.

Muhammad Akmal Zuhairi Azmal, Azamuddin Md Sofi, Muhammad Najib Mohd Razi, Muhammad Afif Najmudin Azahat, Mohamad Shobirin Sabri and Abdoul Hakeem Mohd Ali were convicted of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

The court also imposed a three-year jail sentence on 12 other UPNM students, including Abdullah’s son, for assaulting Zulfarhan to force him to confess to stealing the laptop.

Zulkarnain Idros and his wife Hawa Osman outside the court before the verdict that his son’s death was not premeditated murder. (Bernama pic)

Justice Azman Abdullah said the 90 burn wounds inflicted on Zulfarhan had caused his death but ruled that it was not a premeditated murder.

Zulkarnain told FMT said he and his wife still found it difficult to come to terms with the way their eldest child was tortured for two days in a row.

He said: “Two days in a row. Was there really no intent? I’m not questioning the court’s decision, but the boys’ intention.

“But I have to accept this. My son is gone and I’ve already forgiven them.”

His family’s hope for justice now hinges on the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ appeal against the High Court’s ruling.

Zulkarnain called on the Malay community to take a lesson from the case and to stop consulting bomohs, saying it was against Islamic teachings.

He said it could cause divisions and enmity “and even death, as in this case”.

Pahang mufti Abdul Rahman Osman also advised Muslims against believing in fortune tellers and bomohs, warning that it went against Islam. - FMT