Authorities remain tight-lipped over RMC student's death

The Fourth Former of the Royal Military College (RMC) who was found hanging from a metal beam at his dormitory on Monday was facing punishment for alleged indiscipline.

The New Straits Times learnt that Darshan Sathian, 16, a first-year student from the ‘Delta Company’ of the college at the Sungai Besi camp had been recently reprimanded by the college administration and was believed to have suffered duress in the past few days.

It was also learnt that investigators were told that Darshan had confided in several of his college mates that he feared facing the punishment.

Police and provost marshals did not find any suicide note but were investigating the circumstances that led to his death, officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the New Straits Times.

Darshan’s death has rattled students, teachers, administrators and parents.

His remains were claimed by his family from the Hospital University Kebangsaan Malaysia mortuary in Cheras yesterday and taken back to his hometown in Skudai, Johor.

The authorities and college administrators were tight-lipped in view of the negative publicity against one of the country’s foremost educational institutions, which just last month celebrated its 60th anniversary.

Students of RMC are known as ‘budak” or ‘puteras’ and their alumni, the Old Puteras Association, boasts of prominent service chiefs in the Armed Forces, civil service, politics and the corporate world.

Two years ago, Fourth Former Mohammad Naim Mustaqim Mohamad Sobri was murdered by his college seniors in a ragging session.

Five Fifth Formers were hauled up with one later expelled. The college commandant was also replaced.

Initial investigations revealed that one of the suspects had allegedly kicked Naim in the abdomen while he was doing push-ups. The victim collapsed shortly after and died without regaining consciousness.