THE Court of Appeal today sentenced six former National Defence University (UPNM) cadets to death for the murder of navy cadet Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain seven years ago.
A three-member bench comprising Datuk Hadhariah Syed Ismail, Mohamed Zaini Mazlan and Datuk Azmi Ariffin unanimously allowed the prosecution's appeal to reinstate a charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code and impose the death penalty.
Hadhariah took close to three hours to read the 93-page judgment.
The court also described the case as the "rarest of the rare".
The following is a chronology of events leading to today's judgment:
June 1, 2017 - Zulfarhan dies at Serdang Hospital due to grievous injuries allegedly inflicted by students from the National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM).
June 2, 2017 - Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein orders an urgent investigation by the armed forces and UPNM into the death.
June 3, 2017 - Victim laid to rest at the Jalan Kebun Teh Muslim cemetery, with family, friends, and UPNM students mourning his tragic death from severe scalding injuries allegedly inflicted by a hot iron.
June 4, 2017 - Zulfarhan, 21, described as kind and soft-spoken, suffered horrific abuse before succumbing to his injuries. His family seeks justice, urging the authorities to take strong action to prevent such cruel acts in the future.
June 14, 2017 - Five university students were charged with the murder, while another student was charged with abetting them.
June 14, 2017 - Thirteen students pleaded not guilty to charges of voluntarily causing hurt to Zulfarhan to extort a confession for a laptop theft, with the magistrate setting bail at RM7,000 each.
June 17, 2017 - The 13 UPNM students charged with voluntarily causing hurt to Zulfarhan will be allowed to continue their studies at the university until their case is decided, according to Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh. The students will also receive counselling for any emotional trauma, while five other UPNM students face murder charges with a mandatory death sentence if convicted.
September 15, 2017 - The trial of five university students accused of murdering Zulfarhan is transferred to the High Court, where they face a mandatory death penalty if convicted. Another student charged with abetting them was also moved to the High Court, while the case of 13 others charged with causing hurt to the victim, will be mentioned on Oct 27.
Oct 16, 2017 - Five university students are facing charges for the murder, with their case set to be mentioned at the High Court on Nov 10.
Nov 10, 2017 - Six university students plead not guilty in the High Court to charges of murder.
Dec 8, 2017 - Nineteen students from UPNM are to stand trial for the murder, abetting, and causing hurt to Zulfarhan. The trial, set for January 29 and spanning several dates through June, involve charges under Sections 302 and 330 of the Penal Code, with severe penalties including the mandatory death sentence and imprisonment, following his death on June 1 from severe injuries allegedly inflicted during an assault to extract a confession.
Jan 29, 2018 - The prosecution aims to prove that 19 fellow students brutally beat, kicked, and burned him with a steam iron, leading to fatal complications from burns covering nearly 80% of his body.
June 5, 2018 - Nurul Syuhada Md Jamean, the girlfriend of Zulfarhan, testifies in court that he had called her in pain, claiming he was accused of stealing a laptop and assaulted by his friends. Six UPNM students pleaded not guilty to murder and abetment charges, while they and 13 others face additional charges of causing hurt to extract a confession, with potential penalties of up to seven years in prison and fines.
Nov 2, 2021 - Six UPNM students initially charged with murder were found guilty of culpable homicide instead, as the court determined there was no premeditated intent.
Nov 2, 2021 - The six defendants were sentenced to 18 years in prison for culpable homicide, while 12 others received three-year sentences for causing grievous hurt, with the terms starting from their arrest date or today, respectively. High Court Judge Datuk Azman Abdullah ruled that although the actions of the UPNM cadet officers in pressing a steam iron on the victim were brutal, they could only be convicted of manslaughter, not premeditated murder, due to lack of intent.
July 23, 2024 - The Court of Appeal sentences the six former UPNM cadets to death for the murder of navy Zulfarhan, describing the case as exceptionally wrongful. The court increased the prison sentence for another 12 former students from three to four years for intentionally causing injury to the victim.