Malaysia, Sunday.
The widow of a detainee who died in a Police lock-up, filed a suit against the Police at the High Court in Johore Bahru, yesterday.
Among those named as respondents are the Head Of Senai Police Station, The Government and the six Policeman who are on duty that fateful day.
The victim Jiwa Ramamoorthy was arrested for alleged robbery on 11th April 2005 and taken to the Senai Police Station for questioning. Prior to that Jiwa had sustained head injuries after he was beaten by a Vigilante group in Taman Jaya, Senai. This Vigilante group consists of residents who grouped together to fight crimes such as robbery and snatch theft.
He was detained overnight at the Senai Police Station Lock-up. He was produced the next morning at the Kulai Magistrate court for remand proceeding. It was while waiting for this proceeding that he died.
The widow, Jagathiswary, claimed that the Police failed to take into account her husbandi’s injuries and seek treatment while he was in their care. When his injuries are not attended to, his condition got worse and eventually died.
The widow said she and her children had lost a loved one. They had also lost their only source of income.
The widow only learned of her husband’s death after being told by a friend.
Jagaswary’s Counsel, Gobond Deo, said that she is seeking for a sum of RM1 million in compensation and an additional sum of RM10,000 for other costs.