Seven soldiers from the Royal Malay Regiment (RAMD) were jailed for seven years each by the High Court in Kuala Lumpur today, after they pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of causing the death of another from the regiment at the Sungai Besi army camp two years ago. Judge Mohd Sofian Abdul Razak said the court could not accept any excuse for the accused to engage in ragging, causing the loss of an innocent life and a beloved member for the family.

He ordered all the seven soldiers to serve their jail sentence from the dates of their arrest. They are privates Mahazir Hamad, 26, Mohd Azman Jabri, 26, Shahrin Mat Rabu, 28, Mohd Khairi Abdullah, 28, Syabramallisi Shahidan, 28, Mohd Bukhari Shawal, 25, and Mazlan Awang Ngah, 26.

They were arrested on different dates within a week of the death of Mohd Shahrizal Mohd Shaffie, 27, in April 2008. The seven had appeared before a magistrate's court on April 22, 2008, on a murder charge but pleaded guilty yesterday when the prosecution offered them an alternative charge. They were accused of killing Shahrizal at the Detention Room of Unit 1, RAMD, Sungai Besi cam, between 11pm on April 5 and 1pm on April 6, 2008.

According to the facts of the case, the victim was beaten, punched and kicked on April 5, 2008, and assaulted similarly the next day. One of the accused had also stepped on Shahrizal's back with his spiked boot until the victim urinated. They only stopped assaulting him after being cautioned by a guard and Shahrizal was rushed to the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital, where he was confirmed dead.

The alternative charge under Section 304(b) carries a jail term of up to 10 years or a fine, or both. The prosecution had called 11 witnesses before the seven accused were offered the alternative charge. Mohd Sofian rejected the defence counsel's contention that their actions were due to their inability to adapt themselves to the RAMD, although they had been there four to six years.

"To me, RAMD has a glorious history and was the first regiment established before World War II and all of you should be proud to serve RAMD," he said. The judge said ragging was not the way to go against the RAMD's regulations or a way out of the unit.

"I understand that during your service (of the seven accused), some of you had received awards and medals, but all these are meaningless now because of your actions," Justice Sofian added before passing sentence. - Bernama. Source: Malaysiakini