KUALA LUMPUR: While the status of RMAF Sukhoi Su-30MKM Flanker status in Malaysia remained unclear (most probably the two lead planes have not arrived yet) 14 trainees from the service’s Air Training College faces sacking from the force.
Why? They had ragged another trainee and with the wonder of modern handphones, the act was recorded for prosperity.
Will they escaped with their commission with such compelling evidence? It will depend on how the victim feel about it while he is on the stand. If the 14 bullies got more than one day jail or RM1,000 they will be sacked from the force.
That means that the graduating class of 2007 will be left than half a dozen officers for advanced flight training. Its effect? The number of pilots who will qualify for the Flanker will go down to single digit
Will the RMAF be able to offset the loss in such a short time? The jury is still out. In the meantime, I hope the lucky 14 will, from now, spend their time on some pencil pushing operations.
It will be too expensive to continue funding their flight classes for the next 24 months while the possibility of them being disqualified from the air force remains.
With so much at stake for RMAF, the nation’s attention are fixed on the Antaltuya murder trial, instead. What can I say?
Bernama.comMalaysian National News AgencyTrial Of 14 Air Force Trainees Fixed For August GeneralJune 27, 2007 15:29 PM
JITRA, June 27 (Bernama) — The trial of 14 Kepala Batas Air Force College trainees for injuring a collegemate in January has been set for August 22 and 23.Magistrate Nabisha Ibrahim fixed the date here Wednesday.The accused are Azharul Abdullah, Ahmad Hafiz Sulaiman, Phana Achuan, Wan Aiman Hazimin Wan Baharudin, Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Suhaimee, Umar Anas Abdul Halim, Mohd Izhwan Zulkapli, Mohd Ezhan Ahmad Moxni, Mohd Rizuan Jamaludin, Mohamad Zhafri Hanafi, Mohd Fauzi Ishak, Abdullah Arobi Mohd Rosli, Sufian Mamat dan Muhamad Yusof.The trainees, aged between 19 and 22, are charged with voluntarily causing hurt to 20-year-old Muhamad Hazim Ahmad Azman on Jan 27 at between 9am and 11.30am at Kanyalang Block of Wisma Pegawai Kadet in Tanah Merah here.If convicted under Section 323 of the Penal Code, they are liable to a year’s jail, RM2,000 fine or both.Sufian and Muhamad face an additional charge under Section 324 of the same Code for voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means which carries a maximum jail term of three years or a fine or whipping or any two of such punishments.According to the charge sheet, Sufian had ordered Hazim to stand on nails while Muhamad had poured hot water on the same victim at the same place on the same date.When the cases were mentioned in court on May 24, they pleaded not guilty and were released on RM1,500 bail with one surety each.All the trainees were represented by counsel Ashok Athimulan while C/Insp Suhaimi Shahrul Mat Rudin prosecuting.– BERNAMA