“I WISH I could be there in court to look at their faces. I want them to know the anger and resentment I feel.”
These were the words of the mother of murdered National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM) naval cadet Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain, 21, upon hearing about the charges against those accused of killing the eldest of her four children.
Hawa Osman, 54, is still coming to terms with the loss of her son. But, all she wants right now is justice.
“Let those responsible for my son’s murder receive fair punishment. Didn’t they feel anything when they tortured my son that way?
“I hope they receive the punishment they deserve,” she said when asked about the five university students who were charged at the Kuala Lumpur magistrate’s court yesterday with the murder of Zulfarhan.
The third-year UPNM student died on June 1 at 9pm in Serdang Hospital due to injuries he sustained from being assaulted by a large group of students, who were said to have suspected him of stealing a laptop computer.
Zulfarhan had been brought to hospital after suffering severe injuries, including second- and third-degree burns on 80 per cent of his body.
Police arrested 36 people, including 32 UPNM and four Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten) students, aged between 20 and 21, to assist with investigations into the murder.
Hawa, who is an administrative assistant at SMK Aminuddin Baki here, said she accepted the tragedy as God’s will. But, she questioned the circumstances which led to the brutal assault and murder of her son.
She said it was difficult for her and her family to not know about the incidents that led to her son’s death.
Hawa said the family had no inkling of what happened to her son, adding that her family was kept in the dark about the incident and was only informed when Zulfarhan had died.
“What was the cause of it? Why was he tortured in such a way without any sympathy? His burns ran all the way from the front part of his body to his back.”
Hawa said she could not accept the barbaric way in which her son was abused.
“I can accept the tragedy (of losing my son), but the way that they hurt him was inhumane. He sustained 80 per cent of second-and third-degree burns. Don’t they have any sympathy?
“At the least, if something like that happened to a person, they should have sent the person to hospital for treatment. Ni langsung tak berhati perut (They had no mercy whatsoever).
“I hope they maintain the charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code (for murder). My family wants justice for my son’s death,” she said.
In describing Zulfarhan, Hawa said he had never disturbed anyone and always lent a hand when people asked for help.
She added that she had harboured a lot of hope for her eldest son as he wanted to become a sailor and dreamt of becoming an engineer.
“He was the family’s hope. I wanted to see him succeed. I wanted to see him get married.”
Zulfarhan’s father, Zulkarnain Idros, 53, said he was relieved that the five had been charged, but he was not happy.
“I am relieved (but) I am not happy... Nothing can bring my son back. I am glad police investigated it quickly,” he said.
Hawa said her three other children, Zulhelmie Idros, 19, Zulfaiqah Lyana, 17, and, Zulhelyna Fatimah, 15, were reeling from the loss.
“I pray for (Zulfarhan) every day. With Hari Raya coming soon, my husband and I think of him more often. His brother and sisters miss him.”
Post time 15-6-2017 01:25 PM
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