Bullying cases that lead to one’s death are tragically becoming more common in our country, and Zulfarhan Osman’s case stands out as one of the most heartbreaking instances so far.
Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain, a 21-year-old Naval Cadet Officer and former student at the National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM), died under horrific circumstances and sustained severe injuries, bruises, and burns all over his body.
He passed away on June 1, 2017, and was buried at the Islamic Cemetery in Jalan Kebun Teh, Johor Bahru.
The tragedy was sparked by a missing laptop and escalated into violence after a ‘bomoh’ (traditional healer) implied that Zulfarhan was the thief, setting off a chain of events that would ultimately lead to his death.
To give you a sense of the horrors Zulfarhan went through, let’s take a look at the injuries that were inflicted on him.
The extent of Zulfarhan’s injuries
According to a pathologist’s report, it showed that Zulfarhan had endured 90 injuries, including burns that covered 80% of his body.
These included:
- Burns: Severe burns covered his entire body, genitals, and legs. These burns were inflicted over a large area, significantly contributing to his suffering and eventual death
- Bruises and cuts: Zulfarhan had bruises on his left eye and scratches on his left eyebrow. Additionally, he sustained three bruises on his scalp
- Fractures: His left rib was broken during the brutal beating
These injuries were identified as the cause of death. As for the burns, its severity ranged between 30-50%, indicating a high likelihood of fatality.
Chronology of events
May 20, 2017: Zulfarhan was beaten at the Jebat Building located at the UPNM hostel for allegedly stealing a laptop, a claim he vehemently denied.
May 21, 2017: The brutality escalated as Zulfarhan was dragged into Room 4-10 at the Jebat Building at 3.00am. Over the course of several hours lasting until 11am, he was savagely beaten by 20-30 students using a steam iron, belts, rubber hoses, and clothes hangers.
May 27, 2017: Severely weakened, Zulfarhan was taken to a private clinic in Section 7, Bandar Baru Bangi, but was sent home to return for further treatment.
May 30, 2017: Instead of receiving proper care, Zulfarhan was taken to a condominium in Bangi to “rest” with two of his abusers.
June 1, 2017: The torture culminated in his death at the condominium at 9:10pm. The police were alerted, and Zulfarhan was transported to Serdang Hospital, where he was confirmed dead. Following this, 36 UPNM and Uniten students were detained for investigation.
June 2, 2017: Zulfarhan was laid to rest at the Islamic Cemetery in Kebun Teh, Johor Bahru.
Legal twists and turns
June 5, 2017: UPNM promised a professional and transparent investigation into Zulfarhan’s death.
June 9, 2017: Four Uniten students were released on bail, while the remand period for 32 UPNM students was extended.
June 14, 2017: Nineteen UPNM students faced charges of intentionally causing injuries to Zulfarhan, while six were charged with murder and conspiracy to murder, facing the death penalty if convicted.
October 27, 2017: The prosecution sought to consolidate the trials of all 19 students.
November 10, 2017: Six students pleaded not guilty to murder and conspiracy to murder charges.
July 31, 2019: The High Court ordered 18 students to enter their defense against the charges after finding a prima facie case against them. The six charged with murder faced mandatory death sentences, while the remaining 12 faced up to seven years in prison and fines if convicted.
November 2, 2021: The High Court sentenced six defendants to 18 years in prison for causing Zulfarhan’s death without intent and sentenced 12 others to three years in prison for intentionally causing injuries.
July 23, 2024: In a significant turn of events, the Court of Appeal sentenced the six primary defendants to death by hanging, overturning the previous 18-year prison sentence. The 12 students who had previously received three-year sentences had their sentences increased to four years.
Here are those who were sentenced to death:
- Akmal Zuhairi Azmal
- Azamuddin Sofi
- Najib Razi
- Afif Najmudin Azahat
- Shobirin Sabri
- Hakeem Ali
The aftermath
Needless to say, the many years of waiting to see those responsible for Zulfarhan’s death get what they deserved was overwhelming for Zulfarhan’s parents, who expressed their relief and gratitude by falling prostrate to the ground outside the courtroom when the sentence was meted out.
Zulfarhan’s father, Zulkarnain Idros said he was deeply grateful to God for answering the prayers of those who had been following the case.
He also thanked the Court of Appeal for “making the right decision by imposing the death penalty on the culprits.”
As for the missing laptop, the mystery remains unsolved, leaving more questions than answers.
