KOTA BHARU, 1 Oct 2017:
The body of Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) personnel Nik Muhammad Baihaqy Nik Mat was buried in a military ceremony at the Kampung Limbat Muslim cemetery in Pasir Tumboh here today.
The remains, which arrived from Ipoh, Perak at 5am, were buried about one hour later witnessed by family members, villagers and RMN officers.
Also present was Naval Air Commander First Admiral Datuk Alias Baharuddin – who handed over the Jalur Gemilang to Nik Muhammad Baihaqy’s mother, Maimun Yasok, 61, after the funeral.
Nik Muhammad Baihaqy, 28, and another RMN personnel Muhammad Lailal Tuiman Mohd Sukri, 26, died at the Sungai Wangi Unit detention room near Sitiawan, Perak, on Friday.
Police have classified the deaths as murder based on the post mortem reports from the Pathology Department of the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh.
Meanwhile the family members of Nik Muhammad Baihaqy wanted his death to be given justice and the parties involved being brought to justice.
His eldest sister, Nik Norliliwati, 44, said the family was shocked at the death of her younger brother due to being beaten after the post mortem was conducted.
She said the family was leaving it to the police to carry out detailed investigations and further action and would await a full decision from the authorities.
“Our family may appoint a lawyer. We will uphold justice, especially for his family, namely wife Noor Bazlin Mohamad, 28, and three children, Nik Adam Mikhail, 4, Nik Aishah Azzahra, 2, and Nik Anas Naufal, 10 months old,” she said.
The wife of Nik Muhammad Baihaqy, who was still grieving over his death, declined to be interviewed by reporters.
The two RMN personnel – who died at the Sungai Wangi Unit detention room near Sitiawan – are believed to have been tortured, said Perak Crime Investigation chief Datuk Gan Tian Kee.
He said police has classified the case as murder based on the report of the post mortem from the Pathology Department of the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital.
“The post mortem conducted on both of them revealed they were tortured, which resulted in injuries. From these findings, the investigations are classified under Section 302 of the Penal Code,” he said in a statement.
Gan said the post mortem on Nik Muhammad Baihaqy, which was carried out from 3.30pm to 7pm showed his death was caused by bleeding on the lungs and blunt trauma on soft tissue.
“The post mortem on Muhammad Lailal Tuiman, from 9pm to 11.30pm, revealed he died due to lung bleeding and blunt trauma on soft tissue.”
Following the post mortem results, he said police had arrested three men – aged between 29 and 44 – at about 9.30pm to facilitate investigations.
“The three suspects were on duty during the Friday (Sept 29) shift from 10am to 11pm. Application for the remand order for the suspects will be made at the Seri Manjung magistrate’s court.”
Gan said police also recorded the statements of eight detainees at the location and 11 guards on duty at the scene.
“In addition, the police seized CCTV sets, seven T batons, a SOP log book and several mobile phones of various brands.”
Earlier, Gan had said Nik Muhammad Baihaqy, 28, was held at the detention centre for 45 days, beginning last Wednesday for going absent without leave (AWOL) which contravened Section 58 of the Armed Forces Act 1972.
“The deceased was also suspected of having been involved in drug abuse and the investigation into the case was still ongoing, pending a chemistry report.”
Gan said Muhammad Lailatuiman, 26, was picked up last Thursday for also going AWOL.
He said the two men, from different units, were undergoing ‘orientation’ at the detention centre during fine weather, in accordance with the standard operating procedures.
RMN in a statement yesterday said Nik Muhammad Baihaqy and Muhammad Lailal Tuiman died at the detention room while undergoing physical training at the camp on Friday.
During the training, the two personnel complained of exhaustion and rested and later vomited and experiencing shortness of breath before being confirmed dead by paramedics who arrived at 3.15pm.
– Bernama
