Malaysia Case Law: Decisions & Judgments

Topic

Custodial death

Legal area

Court

9 Jul 2025

MUNIAMAH A/P RAMAN Kerajaan Malaysia

Citation

AA-21NCvC-5-03/2020 (Mahkamah Tinggi)
Court

High Court
Case number

AA-21NCvC-5-03/2020 (Mahkamah Tinggi)

The court held that defendants, including prison and police officers, breached statutory and common law duties owed to the deceased in custody by failing to provide timely medical treatment, maintain records, notify next‑of‑kin and by suppressing evidence; the conduct satisfied the elements of misfeasance in public office and engaged vicarious liability of the Government. An adverse inference was warranted for non‑production of CCTV. Judgment entered for plaintiff and quantified damages awarded as set out in orders.
30 May 2024

1. ) NATTHANAN YOOCHOMSUK 2. ) BALRAJ A/L SUPPIAH 1. ) INSP. MOHD NOOR HUSRI BIN JOHARI 2. ) INSP. MOHANESWARAN A/L THIGARAJAH 3. ) ASP NORSANIZAM BIN HAJI NORDIN 4. ) ASP MUHAMMAD KHUZAIRI BIN ABD WAHAB 5. ) KETUA POLIS NEGARA, MALAYSIA 6.

Citation

WA-21NCvC-15-02/2020 (Mahkamah Tinggi)
Court

High Court
Case number

WA-21NCvC-15-02/2020 (Mahkamah Tinggi)

The High Court found on balance of probabilities that the deceased sustained non-accidental blunt-force injuries while in police custody which caused his death; the defendants breached their common law and statutory duties by failing to obtain medical treatment and by assaulting the deceased; res ipsa loquitur applied to shift burden of explanation to defendants who failed to rebut it; First to Fourth Defendants liable for negligence, assault and false imprisonment and Fifth and Sixth Defendants vicariously liable; plaintiffs awarded judgment with costs and damages to be assessed separately.
13 Sept 2021

1. ) JANAGI A/P NADARAJAH 2. ) ANGELINE A/P BENEDICT 1. ) SJN RAZALI BIN BUDIN 2. ) INSP MOHD SHAHRIZAN BIN AMILUDIN 3. ) ASP HNGH AH LEONG 4. ) L/KPL MOHD AZMAN BIN HAMDAN 5. ) KPL MOHD HAZIMAN BIN JALIL 6. ) L/KPL MOHAMAD HAFEZZUL BIN ZUL

Citation

WA-21NCVC-38-07/2020 (Mahkamah Tinggi)
Court

High Court
Case number

WA-21NCVC-38-07/2020 (Mahkamah Tinggi)

The court held the police owed a duty of care to the detained deceased, the defendants breached statutory duties and SOPs (failure to record, communicate, medically assess and ensure administration of medication and failure in lockup supervision), those breaches on balance of probabilities caused or contributed to death, and the Government is vicariously liable; plaintiffs entitled to dependency, estate and other damages accordingly.
22 Mar 2021

Koperal Zainal bin Mohd Ali dan 6 lagi Selvi a/p Narayan (Pentadbir Bersama Estet dan Tanggungan Chandran a/l Perumal, si mati) dan satu lagi

Citation

01(f)-2-01/2018(w) (Mahkamah Persekutuan)
Court

f
Case number

01(f)-2-01/2018(w) (Mahkamah Persekutuan)

Section 8(2) CLA constitutes an absolute bar to awarding exemplary damages under the CLA private-law estate claim, but that statutory bar does not preclude the executors of a deceased from bringing a separate public-law claim for breach of Article 5(1) Federal Constitution enforceable under Schedule 1 para 25 Courts of Judicature Act 1964; the Federal Court affirmed that constitutional infringement can attract exemplary (punitive) monetary relief as an appropriate public-law remedy and upheld the High Court's exemplary award of RM200,000 to the estate.

Malaysia Case Law

MUNIAMAH A/P RAMAN Kerajaan Malaysia

1. ) NATTHANAN YOOCHOMSUK 2. ) BALRAJ A/L SUPPIAH 1. ) INSP. MOHD NOOR HUSRI BIN JOHARI 2. ) INSP. MOHANESWARAN A/L THIGARAJAH 3. ) ASP NORSANIZAM BIN HAJI NORDIN 4. ) ASP MUHAMMAD KHUZAIRI BIN ABD WAHAB 5. ) KETUA POLIS NEGARA, MALAYSIA 6.

1. ) JANAGI A/P NADARAJAH 2. ) ANGELINE A/P BENEDICT 1. ) SJN RAZALI BIN BUDIN 2. ) INSP MOHD SHAHRIZAN BIN AMILUDIN 3. ) ASP HNGH AH LEONG 4. ) L/KPL MOHD AZMAN BIN HAMDAN 5. ) KPL MOHD HAZIMAN BIN JALIL 6. ) L/KPL MOHAMAD HAFEZZUL BIN ZUL

Koperal Zainal bin Mohd Ali dan 6 lagi Selvi a/p Narayan (Pentadbir Bersama Estet dan Tanggungan Chandran a/l Perumal, si mati) dan satu lagi