A widow has been awarded RM446,780 in damages by the High Court today as compensation for her husband's death while in police custody in 2017. The court, represented by Judicial Commissioner Wan Fadhilah Wan Idris, took into account the testimony of a forensic pathologist who stated that the deceased, M. Segar, had succumbed to multiple blunt force trauma wounds. The court firmly placed the responsibility for the death on the police, as it occurred when the deceased was under their custody.
After careful consideration of the evidence, the court decided to grant the compensation claim to the plaintiff, M. Vimala Devy, amounting to RM446,780. This amount was broken down as follows: RM63,000 for loss of support, RM3,780 for funeral expenses, RM30,000 for bereavement, RM150,000 for misfeasance in public office by civil servants, and RM200,000 for aggravated damages. Additionally, the court ordered the respondents to pay RM20,000 in costs and five percent interest to the plaintiff from March 30, 2022. The ruling aimed to provide some semblance of justice and relief to the grieving widow for the loss she had endured.
The deceased, 46-year-old M. Segar, worked as a stall helper, while his wife, Vimala Devy, 44, was a stay-at-home wife. They were parents to a son. The plaintiff was represented by lawyers Haresh Mahadevan and Ramzani Idris, while lawyer Shah Wira Abdul Halim represented the government in this case. It is noteworthy that the legal representation ensured that the widow's claims were well-advocated and considered throughout the trial. Previous reports revealed that the deceased had been detained by the police at the Port Dickson district station on suspicion of drug abuse in 2017. Sadly, at 1.55 am, the deceased was discovered unconscious in the lock-up cell, leading to his tragic death.
This court ruling acknowledges the pain and injustice faced by the widow, providing some financial compensation and recognizing the misconduct that occurred while her husband was in police custody. It is a small step towards seeking accountability and offering solace to those affected by such incidents.
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