KUALA LUMPUT, Oct 8 — The government has agreed to an out-of-court settlement of RM200,000 in damages over a wrongful arrest suit brought against it by six Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members, including Sungai Siput MP Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, The Star Online reported today.
The news portal added that Justice Hue Siew Kheng today recorded the consent judgement, entered on the terms of the settlement read out by the plaintiffs’ counsel Yudistra Darma Dorai in the presence of all parties.
In the March 23 suit over false imprisonment and misfeasance, plaintiffs Jeyakumar, M. Sukumaran, A.P. Letchumanan, Choo Chon Kai, M. Saraswathy and R.R. Sarat Babu named 82 defendants, including the Inspector-General of Police and his deputy, the Government, the Home Ministry, the Attorney-General and a deputy public prosecutor, along with at least 60 police officers, The Star Online added.
In their statement of claim, the six claimed their detention was unjustified and unlawful, and had been done for political reasons.
The news portal reported that they also claimed that they were denied their legal rights while in custody, including their right to consult with a lawyer.
They sought a declaration that their rights under the Federal Constitution had been infringed upon, and claimed assessed damages, aggravated and exemplary damages, costs, and other damages and relief deemed fit by the court.
