'Bruised, bleeding': Mum suspects foul play in son's death during Rotu training

'Bruised, bleeding': Mum suspects foul play in son's death during Rotu training


Published: Aug 1, 2025 11:19 AM
Updated: 3:37 PM


A grieving mother has lodged a police report over her son’s death after discovering his body bearing what she described as severe bruises, wounds resembling gunshot injuries, and blood seepage.

Ummu Haiman Bee Daulatgun said she was alerted to the tragedy on July 28 when she received a call around 4.30pm from a lecturer at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in Skudai, where her son, Haris Samsudin, was a student.

She was informed that Haris had died during (Reserve Officers Training Unit, or Rotu) training in Ulu Tiram.

But what she encountered at the hospital raised deeply disturbing questions and led her to file a police report in Kajang.

She also alleged that when she sought answers about her son’s death, she was provided with “all sorts of reasons” and that his condition was “rather bad” and inconsistent with the information given.

“There were several injuries, such as swelling and wounds on the body and his shoulder. Besides that, my son’s nose was also oozing blood, like there was head trauma from impact.

“There were also wounds, and a lot of blood stains, like punched holes or gunshots, and bandaged thickly, but there was a lot of blood still oozing from the hole, soaking the neck and mattress lining.

“My son’s eyes were also bleeding continuously,” she stated in the police report, sighted by Malaysiakini.


Probe urged

Speaking at a press conference today, Ummu said there were also inconsistencies between information relayed to her and a relative.

According to the mother, she was informed that Haris had died after suffering from a seizure following a shooting training, but her relative was told that the victim was killed in a fight.

Suspecting that her son may have been murdered, Ummu has urged the authorities to launch a full investigation.

“I do not want to accuse anyone, but I want to know how my son died during the exercise,” she said during the conference held at the office of senior criminal lawyer Naran Singh in Ipoh.

Naran, who is representing Ummu, urged authorities to carry out a thorough investigation.

He said the family is hoping the police will interview all the other trainees involved in the Ulu Tiram exercise and for health authorities to prioritise Haris’ post-mortem report.

The lawyer also expressed disappointment over the authorities’ attempt to prevent the mother from taking photos of the deceased’s body.

“She was guarded closely by several officers and was only allowed to view a part of the body and was prevented from taking any photo,” Naran told the press.

However, Ummu said, she had ignored the officers and proceeded to photograph the injuries on her son’s body.

Last November, a Rotu trainee from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Shah Alam, Selangor, had also passed away during training, and his father had lodged a police report.

The police later said that preliminary investigations revealed that the victim, who had been part of the uniformed unit since October, was undergoing a fitness test ahead of basic training scheduled for next year when he succumbed to heat stroke.