TAWAU: Two former members of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) and a woman have filed a RM90 million lawsuit against the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and 11 other parties for alleged unlawful arrest, abuse, and malicious prosecution linked to a high-profile murder case.
The plaintiffs, Sergeant Khairul Azman Bakar, Inspector John Kennedy Anak Sanggah, and his wife Vivien Fabian, filed the suit through the law firm Chang & Kamarudin at the Tawau High Court.
They were among eight individuals acquitted and discharged on Jan 25, 2024, by the same court of the murder of 61-year-old e-hailing driver Nurman Bakaratu.
In the writ of summons, the plaintiffs named the following as defendants: Former Bukit Aman CID Director Datuk Seri Abdul Jalil Hassan, Bukit Aman CCID Director Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa, Bukit Aman NCID Director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan, former Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Idris Abdullah, Tawau District Police Chief ACP Jasmin Hussin, former investigating officers ACP Ts Dr Mohd Hakim Hashom and DSP Yusman Shahri Marinsah, former IGP Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, Deputy Public Prosecutor Shafiq Hasim, Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) and the Government of Malaysia.
Their lawyer, Kamarudin Mohd Chinki, confirmed that two separate suits were filed on June 30 and July 4, seeking over RM30 million in damages and a public apology.
In their statement of claim, the plaintiffs alleged physical and mental abuse, threats, wrongful detention, misuse of power, and malicious prosecution, all in violation of their constitutional rights.
They are seeking special and general damages, a court-ordered public apology via websites, social media, and major newspapers for three consecutive days, compensation for gross negligence and abuse of power.
The court has fixed Sept 11 for an e-review pending service of the summons to all defendants.
This comes after a separate RM100 million lawsuit was filed on Aug 20, 2024, by former Esscom Chief Intelligence Officer SAC (Rtd) Datuk Mat Zaki Md Zain and three others also acquitted in the same case — Fabian Anak Rungan, Dennis Anak Enit, and Mohd Azlan Sakaran.
The murder case, which attracted significant public interest, ended with the acquittal of all eight accused earlier this year.