Malaysia Case Law: Decisions & Judgments

Topic

Duty of care in custody

Legal area

Court

24 Sept 2025

SUSHILA RANI A/P RAMASAMY 1. ) Kerajaan Malaysia 2. ) MENTERI DALAM NEGERI MALAYSIA 3. ) Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Penjara Kluang

Citation

J-01(NCvC)(W)-163-03/2023 (Mahkamah Rayuan)
Court

NCvC
Case number

J-01(NCvC)(W)-163-03/2023 (Mahkamah Rayuan)

The Court affirmed the High Court: although a duty of care existed, the respondents did not breach it because the deceased's suicide was not reasonably foreseeable from his history while in custody, there was no evidence of third party involvement or access to the cell, and coroner's inquest findings do not bind the civil court; accordingly the respondents are not liable in negligence or vicariously.
15 Apr 2025

1. ) TENASWARI A/P RAJEN 2. ) Madhavan A/l Kattan [Bertindak Sebagai Pentadbir-pentadbir Bersama Sah Harta Pusaka Thinagaran A/l Madhavan, Simati Dan Dalam Kapasiti Sendiri Serta Pihak-pihak Tanggungan Si Mati Yang Lain] 1. ) KEPTEN MARITIM

Citation

BA-21NCvC-24-05/2020 (Mahkamah Tinggi)
Court

High Court
Case number

BA-21NCvC-24-05/2020 (Mahkamah Tinggi)

Where a person is detained the detaining authority owes a duty to take reasonable care to prevent self-harm; Defendants breached that duty by providing an extra pair of pants and detaining the deceased in a cell with a grill and by failing to monitor continuously (CCTV and patrols), causally enabling the suicide; novus actus and contributory negligence defenses fail; Plaintiffs succeed on negligence only and are entitled to specified damages and costs.

Malaysia Case Law

SUSHILA RANI A/P RAMASAMY 1. ) Kerajaan Malaysia 2. ) MENTERI DALAM NEGERI MALAYSIA 3. ) Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Penjara Kluang

1. ) TENASWARI A/P RAJEN 2. ) Madhavan A/l Kattan [Bertindak Sebagai Pentadbir-pentadbir Bersama Sah Harta Pusaka Thinagaran A/l Madhavan, Simati Dan Dalam Kapasiti Sendiri Serta Pihak-pihak Tanggungan Si Mati Yang Lain] 1. ) KEPTEN MARITIM