KUALA LUMPUR, May 30- The High Court here has fixed June 19 for decision on a negligence suit filed by the mother of A. Kugan (photo), a suspected car-jacker who died in police custody in 2009.
Justice Datuk V. T. Singham set the date today, after hearing submissions from all parties involved.
On Jan 13, last year, N. Indra filed a claim for RM100 million in damages and named then-Selangor police chief Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar (currently the inspector-general of police, holding the Tan Sri title) as the first defendant; former police constable V. Navindran (second defendant); former Subang Jaya police chief ACP Zainal Rashid Abu Bakar (third defendant-now deceased); inspector-general of police (fourth defendant); and, the government as fifth defendant.
Senior federal counsel Azizan Md Arshad, who represented Khalid, Zainal Rashid, the police force and the government, submitted that after investigations, there was a link between Navindran and the cause of injuries inflicted on the deceased.
“In the trial, it was shown that Navindran came to the police station where the deceased was held and caused (the said) injuries. Two policemen, lance corporals Mohd Haizan Hamid and Junid Haron, then stopped Navindran from further beating the deceased.
“Navindran was charged in a criminal court and found guilty based on Mohd Haizan and Junid’s evidence. Therefore, we submit that the decision to charge Navindran clearly showed that he had not carried out his official duty as a police officer, but had acted on a frolic of his own,” he said.
Azizan also said that Navindran had only denied that he was the one who caused the injuries without any corroboration, blaming others for using him as a ‘scapegoat’, rather than challenge the evidence adduced by others.
Counsel R. Sivarasa, representing Indra, submitted that Indra had lost support and monthly contributions after Kugan died.
In her statement of claim, Indra alleged that the defendants had failed to ensure the safety, health and welfare of her son while he was under police detention from Jan 14 to 20, 2009.
Kugan, then 23, was detained as a luxury car theft suspect.
– BERNAMA
