Defence minister Khaled Nordin said his ministry would now leave the investigation to the police.

“The ministry has been informed that the case is now under police attention for further action against two army personnel who are believed to be involved,” he said in a statement.

Khaled said the army would determine the appropriate action to be taken against those involved based on the investigation’s findings.

He also stressed that the defence ministry is committed to ensuring that this case is handled transparently, fairly and in accordance with the law.

The victim, 25-year-old commando Abdul Hamid Talib, was allegedly beaten during training at the Sri Iskandar army camp in Mersing, leaving him severely injured.

Lawyers for Liberty adviser N Surendran, who is representing Hamid’s family, called for the case to be classified as attempted murder and for those responsible to be prosecuted.

He said the commando sustained severe injuries, with “part of his skull exposed” from a punishment allegedly meted out at the camp.

Surendran said the Sabah-based family had received no explanation on how Hamid was injured, despite lodging a report at the Mersing police headquarters on March 14. He said they were initially told that Hamid had “fallen” on March 11.

Hamid is currently being treated at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre.

Separately, Johor police chief Ab Rahaman Arsad said investigation papers were completed and referred to prosecutors.