KUANTAN: Police have recorded statements from more than 10 witnesses in connection with the alleged bullying of Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) trainees at the Kuantan air base here last month.
Outgoing Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said investigations were still ongoing as the department had yet to wrap up their probe on the alleged bullying incident which took place on April 12.
"More than 10 witnesses have given their statements to assist in the investigation and among those called up by the police so far include five trainees who were the alleged victims and six suspects. We might summon more trainees and their respective supervisors for investigation purposes.
"So far, police have not arrested anyone as we are still in the midst of calling the witnesses to compile information on the incident. Once completed, the papers will be referred to the Deputy Public Prosecutor's office for further action," he told reporters after attending the Pahang police headquarters' special monthly assembly here.
Ramli has been appointed as federal police Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director and will be replaced by acting Kuala Lumpur police chief, Datuk Yahaya Othman.
Meanwhile, Ramli said police received full cooperation from the RMAF during their probe, adding that all the witnesses called in were from the Kuantan air base.
On when the probe will be completed, Ramli said it depended on a number of things.
He said the case was being investigated under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt.
Meanwhile, Ramli said he hoped cases involving bullying will not become a culture at training bases.
The bullying case was revealed in a viral Twitter thread by @ummiiiiinmo, who claimed her brother was a victim of ragging while training at the base.
The trainee was allegedly whipped using a rubber pipe, bitten on his ears, stripped naked and beaten by the seniors.
On May 3, police confirmed that four other RMAF trainees alleged that they were beaten up at the air base.