THREE instructors from the Reserve Officer Training Unit (Palapes), all officers in the Malaysian Armed Forces, have been charged in the Kota Tinggi Sessions Court in Johor over the death of a cadet from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Syamsul Haris Shamsudin.
The charges were filed on Friday morning at 9am under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code read together with Section 34, according to Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail.
"The punishment provided under this offence is imprisonment for up to 30 years and shall also include a fine," he said.
Syamsul Haris, aged 22, died at Kota Tinggi Hospital on 28 July following training at the Army Combat Training Centre in Ulu Tiram. His body was buried the following day at the Kampung Rinching Ulu Islamic Cemetery in Semenyih, Selangor.
Mohd Khalid urged the public to avoid speculation, emphasising the importance of respecting the criminal justice process.
"The public is advised not to speculate on this case as the criminal charges and trial procedures will commence and in order to uphold the principles of justice in the country," he said in a statement on Friday.
The police received the investigation papers back from the Attorney General’s Chambers on 24 February, concerning the case previously investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
The Attorney General subsequently directed that charges be brought against the three Palapes instructors involved. - February 27, 2026
