PUTRAJAYA, Aug 20 — The government wants the Federal Court to determine the legal question of whether it (the government) will be liable in tort under the Government Proceedings Act 1956 when a public officer commits the offence of murder.

Head of the Appellate and Trial Division in the Attorney General’s Chambers, Datuk Nik Suhaimi Nik Sulaiman today urged the Federal Court to grant the government leave to appeal against the Court of Appeal’s decision to reinstate it (the government) as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by the family of deceased Mongolian model, Altantuya Shaariibuu.

He sought the court to determine four questions of law which were novel questions regarding the government’s vicarious liability for the murder committed by its agents or employees.

The questions are: