Missing F5 engines not for disposal, says technician
Published: Sep 23, 2011 11:34 AM | Updated: Sep 23, 2011 12:34 PM
The Sessions Court in Shah Alam today was informed that two F5 engines owned by the Royal Air Force reported would not have been disposed of as they only needed minor repairs.
The Sessions Court in Shah Alam today was informed that two F5 engines owned by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) reported would not have been disposed of as they only needed minor repairs.
Airod Sdn Bhd technician Omar Itam said the engines were sent to the Matra 1 (material processing shed) of the Kuala Lumpur Airbase for repairs.
Omar, 52, the second prosecution witness, added that there were F5 engines which were beyond repair and meant for disposal but he was not involved in the process.
Cross-examined by Deputy Public Prosecutor Hamidi Mohd Noh on how to differentiate the F5 engines, Omar said: “We identify them by looking at their individual serial numbers.”
Airod technician Hilal Mohd Yusof confirmed that he saw the two engines as they were being loaded into the container to be sent to Matra 1.
Hilal said that one F5 engine arrived at Airod on April 12, 2007 and was packed on June 21, 2007.
He could not remember when the other engine arrived at Airod but it was packed on Sept 25, 2009, he added.
“I handled the crane to lift the engine and made sure its serial number matched the label on the container.
“I also made sure the engine was in good condition when I closed the container,” he said.
Technicians Omar and Osman Abdullah assisted in the packing, Hilal told Hamidi during the examination-in-chief.
Asked by Rajpal Singh how he came to know the engines were missing, Hilal said: “I found out when I was called to testify and after it became a big issue in the RMAF.”
Hilal was the third prosecution witness in the trial of RMAF Sergeant N Tharmendran and businessman K Rajandran Prasad who are charged with conspiring to steal and dispose of the RMAF F5 engines.
Pleaded not guilty
On Jan 6 last year, Tharmendran pleaded not guilty to conspiring with airman Mohamad Shukri Mohamad Yusop to steal two J85-21 model F5 engines at the Sungai Besi Airbase on April 30, 2008.
He was charged under Section 380 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine.
Rajandran Prasad, a supply company director, pleaded not guilty to intentionally disposing of the two RMAF engines at 49 Jalan TS 6/6, Taman Industri Subang, on April 30, 2008.
Rajandran, who was represented by counsel Gobind Singh Deo, was charged under Section 414 of the Penal Code which provides for imprisonment of up to seven years and fine.
On Aug 20, Tharmendran pleaded not guilty to a charge of money laundering involving RM62,000 while Rajandran pleaded not guilty to five similar charges involving RM437,319.50.
The trial resumes before Judge Aslam Zainuddin continues on Oct 10.
- Bernama
Airod Sdn Bhd technician Omar Itam said the engines were sent to the Matra 1 (material processing shed) of the Kuala Lumpur Airbase for repairs.
Omar, 52, the second prosecution witness, added that there were F5 engines which were beyond repair and meant for disposal but he was not involved in the process.
Cross-examined by Deputy Public Prosecutor Hamidi Mohd Noh on how to differentiate the F5 engines, Omar said: “We identify them by looking at their individual serial numbers.”
Airod technician Hilal Mohd Yusof confirmed that he saw the two engines as they were being loaded into the container to be sent to Matra 1.
Hilal said that one F5 engine arrived at Airod on April 12, 2007 and was packed on June 21, 2007.
He could not remember when the other engine arrived at Airod but it was packed on Sept 25, 2009, he added.
“I handled the crane to lift the engine and made sure its serial number matched the label on the container.
“I also made sure the engine was in good condition when I closed the container,” he said.
Technicians Omar and Osman Abdullah assisted in the packing, Hilal told Hamidi during the examination-in-chief.
Asked by Rajpal Singh how he came to know the engines were missing, Hilal said: “I found out when I was called to testify and after it became a big issue in the RMAF.” Hilal was the third prosecution witness in the trial of RMAF Sergeant N Tharmendran and businessman K Rajandran Prasad who are charged with conspiring to steal and dispose of the RMAF F5 engines.
Pleaded not guilty
On Jan 6 last year, Tharmendran pleaded not guilty to conspiring with airman Mohamad Shukri Mohamad Yusop to steal two J85-21 model F5 engines at the Sungai Besi Airbase on April 30, 2008.
He was charged under Section 380 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine.
Rajandran Prasad, a supply company director, pleaded not guilty to intentionally disposing of the two RMAF engines at 49 Jalan TS 6/6, Taman Industri Subang, on April 30, 2008.
Rajandran, who was represented by counsel Gobind Singh Deo, was charged under Section 414 of the Penal Code which provides for imprisonment of up to seven years and fine.
On Aug 20, Tharmendran pleaded not guilty to a charge of money laundering involving RM62,000 while Rajandran pleaded not guilty to five similar charges involving RM437,319.50.
The trial resumes before Judge Aslam Zainuddin continues on Oct 10.
- Bernama
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