RMAF officer sacked over indelible ink issue
(The Star) – A court martial has sacked an air force officer for making a media statement on the ineffectiveness of the indelible ink in the 2013 general election and releasing information about his transfer letter.
Mej Zaidi Ahmad of the Royal Malaysian Air Force had been ordered to enter his defence on two charges, but opted to remain silent.
The court found his choice of remaining silent sufficient to convict Mej Zaidi, 47.
“Therefore, the court decides that Mej Zaidi is guilty of the charges,” said Kol Saadon Hasnan, who chaired the five-member panel.
“This court unanimously decides to dismiss you from the service of Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” he added when delivering the verdict yesterday.
Other members of the panel were Lt-Kol Zainurin Mohd Dom, Mej Khairul Nizam Taib, Mej Khuzairi Mohd Arshad and Mej S. Nadzeer Sallehuddin.
Five other charges, also related to the indelible ink and transfer letter, had been struck out.
Kol Saadon noted that Mej Zaidi, the commanding officer of the Butterworth air base, had been given three options – to give evidence under oath, testify without taking the oath or to remain silent.
He said the decision to dismiss Mej Zaidi was based on several factors which were submitted by prosecuting officers Mej Ahmad Azam Soip and Kapt Rose Anuar Aripin.
These were public interest, gravity of offence, social standing of Mej Zaidi and sentencing according to the law.
Kol Saadon said this was a case of public interest and the verdict should deter others from committing similar offences.
In arriving at the verdict, he said, the panel had taken into consideration Mej Zaidi’s outstanding record.
“You have served for 26 years, won medals, demonstrated good leadership in Bosnia-Herzegovina and have an excellent service and clean record,” he said.
Mej Zaidi, in mitigation, had called on former military truck driver Mohd Yusoff Ishak, 49, whose life he had helped to save, to testify under oath.
Mohd Yusoff said he and a colleague were safely evacuated from an accident site due to the initiative and competence of Mej Zaidi.
Mej Zaidi was given a chance to plead for himself as his counsel Mohamed Hanipa Maidin was not present, but was stopped by Kol Saadon when he did not use the proper title to address the panel members. He also touched on political influence.
Kol Saadon interjected that they (the Armed Forces) were impartial. At this point Mej Khuzairi asked Mej Zaidi to base his plea on facts.
Mej Zaidi, showing his frustration, said he was a grown up with 26 years of service and not a child.
His wife, three daughters, an elder sister and two younger siblings were present at the proceedings.
Mej Zaidi was charged with making a statement on the indelible ink to the media without approval from the Defence Ministry at the Kepala Batas police station on May 1, 2013.
He was also charged with broadcasting official information on his transfer letter without the approval of the Armed Forces Council at Taman Bertam Indah, Kepala Batas, Penang, on May 3, 2013.
