PALAPES CADET'S DEATH RECLASSIFIED AS MURDER, AGC ORDERS

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 (Bernama) -- The Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) has directed that the death of PALAPES cadet Syamsul Haris Shamsudin be reclassified as murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code for further investigation by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).

In a statement today, the AGC said the decision was made after it was briefed on the findings of PDRM’s investigation into the 22-year-old’s death.

“After being briefed and reviewing the investigation report, the AGC has instructed that the case be reclassified under Section 302 of the Penal Code [Act 574] for continued investigation by PDRM,” it said.

Syamsul Haris died on July 28 at Kota Tinggi Hospital in Johor after undergoing training at the Army Combat Training Centre in Ulu Tiram.

He was buried the following day at the Kampung Rinching Ulu Muslim Cemetery in Semenyih, Selangor.

Meanwhile, Bukit Aman CID Director Datuk M. Kumar said the investigation into Syamsul Haris’ death will now focus on identifying individuals involved or responsible.

He said the investigation papers will be resubmitted to the AGC for further direction, in line with Article 145 of the Federal Constitution.

“The public is reminded not to speculate while the police complete their investigation, and out of respect for the principles of criminal justice in this country,” he said in a statement today.

The case was previously classified as a sudden death report (SDR). It was taken over entirely by the Classified Crime Investigation Unit (USJT) of Bukit Aman’s Prosecution and Legal Division (D5) on Aug 27, following a Shah Alam High Court order allowing the family’s application for exhumation and a second post-mortem.

-- BERNAMA