Khaled slammed for failing to explain long silence as 25-year old commando lays in coma after army camp assault
Abdul Hamid Talib is currently being tube-fed in a government hospital after an incident which family members said they were not informed about for almost two months.
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More questions have been raised regarding the case of a commando now in a vegetative state following severe injuries at a military camp in Johor, with lawyers calling out the defence ministry for the lengthy delay in taking action and urging that investigation details be made public.
N Surendran, the lawyer for Trooper Abdul Hamid Talib, a member of the Special Service Group (GGK) who is in a coma after suffering injuries at Kem Iskandar in Mersing on March 11, said Defence Minister Khaled Nordin's response to a press conference on the incident by Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) last week failed to provide any update on the case.
He said the minister also failed to explain why the victim's family had been kept in the dark for almost two months after he was taken to hospital.
"The Ministry of Defence and the government should have been open and transparent about this grievous incident involving a member of our commando forces while carrying out his duties in the army camp. He is only 25 years old, and now his entire future is dark," said Surendran.
Hamid, who is Sabahan, suffered severe injuries including head trauma, and part of his skull had to be removed. He is currently being tube-fed in a government hospital ward.
Following silence from the army and the government, LFL organised a press conference where Hamid's family members revealed that they were falsely informed he was found unconscious after a fall in the bathroom.
It was also revealed that physical or corporal punishment was inflicted upon Hamid.
On the same day, Khaled said the matter was being investigated by police who have identified two suspects, adding that the army had also completed its own internal investigation.
But Surendran demanded that Khaled explain why the matter was kept under wraps.
"Why was the incorrect information given to the family? Who was responsible and what action has been taken upon them?
"The minister of defence failed to state whether all the army commanders and officers responsible have been suspended pending inquiry and investigation. How can there be an effective and comprehensive inquiry if all the potential wrongdoers are still on active duty in the camp?" he said.
He reminded Khaled of the Armed Forces (Field Punishment) Regulations 1976, which prohibit corporal punishment on serving members of the Armed Forces.
"In other words, under no circumstances can our soldiers be subjected to beatings or assault purportedly as corporal punishment. It is illegal, and a crime to do so."
He called on the inspector-general of police and the attorney-general to explain why after 50 days "no person or persons have been made accountable in a court of law".
"The minister of defence and government must make public the findings of the inquiry held by the army into the incident," he said.
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