Four lawyers file RM85 million suit against govt and police

Bernama (5/11/2007): Four lawyers filed a RM85 million suit against six police officers, including the Inspector-General of Police, and the government Monday for wrongful arrest and detention.

M.Manoharan, P.Uthayakumar, P.Waythamoorthy and V.Ganabatirau filed the suit at the Civil High Court registry through Messrs R.Kengadharan.

They named Shah Alam OCPD ACP Noor Azam Jamaludin, deputy OCPD Supt Sharif Abdul Wahid, the Inspector-General of Police, Selangor police chief, Selangor CID chief, one constable Hasrul and the government as defendants.

Manoharan, Uthayakumar and Ganabatirau are seeking RM20 million in general damages while Waythamoorthy is seeking RM25 million.

In their statement of claim, they said that they went to the Shah Alam district police headquarters on Oct 30 to see their respective clients but were stopped by constable Hasrul who acted aggressively and pushed Waythamoorthy, injuring him on the head and elbow.

They claimed that upon seeing the commotion, other policeen rushed to the station and constable Hasrul also used abusive language on them.

They were arrested at 11 that night on the instruction of the first five defendants and were only released at 8pm the following day.

They claimed that the wrongful arrest and detention had tarnished their reputation and image as lawyers.

They said that a result of the arrest, they did not get to meet their clients that day and also missed their other cases fixed for that day.