'I can forgive ... but that won't bring Zulfarhan back'

"I LEARNT that they will be released four years from now, and if they apologise, I am ready to forgive … but the sad part is my son will not come back to life."

Thus said the mother of naval cadet officer, Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain, Hawa Osman, after the Federal Court overturned the death sentence for six former students from the National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM) convicted of the murder of Naval Cadet Officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain eight years ago.

According to reports in Sinar Harian, Hawa, 62, who was accompanied by her husband, Zulkarnain Idros, did now show much expression when the verdict was read out.

"Previously, two families of the accused met us, and they too said they were not at peace over their children's actions against Zulfarhan.

"I forgive them, but not completely, because we know the deceased did not commit any wrongdoing against all the accused," he said.

Meanwhile, Zulkarnain, 61, said that it would be best if all the accused did not meet him after completing their prison sentences.

"It's better not to come, I am afraid old wounds will bleed again, it may have healed for now, but the scar remains.

"This is the best for the peace of both parties," he said as reported by Sinar Harian.

Earlier, the court upheld the 18-year prison sentence, which was previously imposed by the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

The three-member panel, chaired by the Chief Judge of Malaya, Datuk Seri Hasnah Mohammed Hashim, and comprising Federal Court Judges Datuk Nordin Hassan and Datuk Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil, accepted the final appeals of the six men, who had been sentenced to death by hanging following an earlier decision by the Court of Appeal on July 23 of last year.

The six individuals—Muhammad Akmal Zuhairi Azmal, Muhammad Azamuddin Mad Sofi, Muhammad Najib Mohd Razi, Muhammad Afif Najmudin Azahat, Mohamad Shobirin Sabri, and Abdoul Hakeem Mohd Ali—are now aged 29.

They were initially convicted for the fatal assault on Zulfarhan, which occurred at the university's Jebat Hostel between 4:45 am and 5:45 am on May 22, 2017.

Zulfarhan later succumbed to his injuries at Serdang Hospital on June 1, 2017. – February 28, 2025