Tharmendran’s father, Nagarajah (centre), and the group were initially barred from entering the defence ministry compound.—file pic
Following the former military officer’s expressed fears of being abducted by Royal Military Air Force (RMAF) officers, parliamentarians Zuraida Kamaruddin, S. Manickavasagam and M. Manogaran, along with lawyers N. Surendran and Latheefa Koya, had sought Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zaid Hamidi’s “guarantee” of Tharmendran’s safety.
Earlier, a ruckus had ensued when military personnel refused them entry into the defence ministry’s compound in Jalan Semarak this morning.
“How can you do this to us? We are elected representatives... at least let us in so we can talk with the minister or his deputy. You can’t let the victim’s father stay outside, he’s 72-years old,” said Surendran, referring to Tharmendran’s father, N. Nagarajah.
After a few minutes, military advisor to the defence minister, Brig-Gen Dzahir Abdul Rahim came out to greet them and allowed the entire party inside to discuss the matter further.
“We came today to hand over a letter of demand to the defence minister, which was received by his military advisor, Dzahir. Since July 8, 2010, after Tharmendran was released from Sg Buloh prison, there have been attempts by the air force to take Tharmendran into their custody.
“On July 16, 2010, just two days before his trial, four armed forces personnel turned up at Tharmendran’s parents’ home with instructions to bring him back to the air base.
“On the morning of the trial on July 19, several air force men unconnected with the trial were seen waiting outside the courtroom,” Surendran told reporters following the meeting.
Tharmendran previously claimed that an air force “major” who allegedly tortured him, as well as nine other RMAF officers under the “major’s” command, were also present at the court building during his hearing earlier this week.
The 42-year-old former air force sergeant had also alleged in a police report that four RMAF officers had visited his parents’ house in Seremban last Friday to abduct him.
Surendran maintained that the fear of being unlawfully taken into custody had pushed Tharmendran to “withdraw his bailor” and voluntarily surrender himself into the custody of prison officials.
The lawyer said that the air force had no legal authority to take Tharmendran into custody, as his service had expired on May 28, 2010, and produced Tharmendran’s salary slip as proof.
“We demand that the minister immediately issue a written guarantee of Tharmendran’s safety from arrest or interference by the air force or its agents.
“Action must be taken against those responsible or implicated in the unlawful attempts to take Tharmendran into custody, and those involved in his torture to extract a confession,” said Surendran.
“We are going to the prime minister’s office next week and we will bring this up. We are not going to keep quiet,” Manickavasagam chimed in.
Tharmendran returned to prison this week after losing his bid for a court protection order against Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) officers he claims intend to abduct him.
Nagarajah subsequently withdrew his bail on his son’s behalf after the Sessions Court rejected the application.
Tharmendran was charged in January this year for the theft of two RMAF F5-E jet engines.
However, he has since denied stealing the fighter jet engines, claiming instead to have been tortured by military officers to force a confession from him saying that he had been responsible for the theft.
The former airman also alleged that he was dragged, stripped down to his underwear, thrown into a freezing cold room, and made to admit repeatedly that he was guilty.
He also claimed to have been made to don a crash helmet before being hit with a cricket bat and a golf club three to four times a day.
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