Family sues Govt, cops for RM100mil

The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The mother of A. Kugan, the suspected car thief who died in police custody two years ago, is suing the police and the Government for more than RM100mil in damages over his death.

N. Indra, 44, is seeking damages arising from alleged negligence, breach of statutory duties on the part of the defendants, assault and battery, false imprisonment and misfeasance (wrong use) of public office.

She filed the suit through her counsel N. Surendran at the High Court civil registry here yesterday. Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam accompanied them.

Kugan, from Puchong, was arrested on Jan 14, 2009, to help in investigation into a luxury car theft syndicate. He died six days later.

His family has named Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar as the first defendant. He was the Selangor police chief when the incident happened.

The family named constable V. Navindran, who had been charged and acquitted over the case, as second defendant.

The third defendant is the late ACP Zainal Rashid Abu Bakar, who was the former Subang Jaya District Police Chief. The suit is against the third defendant’s estate.

The fourth defendant is Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar while the Government is named fifth defendant.

Surendran told reporters the family was filing the suit as nobody was convicted during the trial of Kugan’s case and neither had the Government apologised to the family although the death happened while in police custody.

Navindran had faced two counts of causing grievous hurt to Kugan at an interrogation room at the Taipan police station in Subang Jaya at 7am on Jan 16, 2009.

However, the constable was discharged and acquitted on Jan 27 last year after the prose­cution failed to establish a prima facie case against him.