Police shooting - judge asks settlement be explored

The hearing of a civil suit at the Kuala Lumpur High Court of a single mother who had been shot by the police four years ago, did not go on as the judge has asked parties to look into the possibility of settling the suit.

Lawyer N Surendran said Justice Hue Siew Kheng has asked parties to consider that, failing which the trial will begin tomorrow.

Initially the trial was fixed for two days beginning today.

"However, the judge has two part-heard (on-going trial) cases and has postponed today's proceedings and asked parties to look into the possibility of settling the matter," said Surendran, who is also Padang Serai MP.

"If there is no settlement, the trial will go on. It is not about the quantum of damages to be paid but for the police to be accountable of their actions."

Surendran said they may apply in court tomorrow for the police to reveal the Inspector-General's Standing Orders (IGSO) on when they can use their firearms.

Norizan, 34, survived five gunshot wounds on her chest and wrist, when policemen opened fire on her car she was travelling in at the Middle Ring Road II in Kuala Lumpur in 2009.
She filed a suit last year claiming for general damages and specific damages of RM18,000 for having surgery at Institut Jantung Negara for having a damaged lung removed.

‘Hisham did not pay’

Surendran told reporters outside court that former home minister Hishammuddin Hussein had told him in a meeting at Parliament that the government will agree to pay the RM18,000.

However, to this day, Surendran said they have not paid any of the amount.

The main thing, he said is that they want to get to know about the IGSO.

“It was discussed briefly during the Aminulrasyid Amzah trial but the full contents has never been disclosed as it is an Official Secrets Act document,” he said, adding hence the conditions on when the police can use guns are not known.

Surendran pointed out that Norizan’s was an interesting case as this is where the police had fired shots but the victim is still alive and her testimony, if there is no settlement tomorrow, would be interesting.

It was reported that Hishammuddin had said that no action would be taken on the police shooters despite investigations having been carried out under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder.