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2025 MarsdenLR 5640
MAHKAMAH TINGGI (KUALA LUMPUR)
Rosilah Yop, J
Mohammad Shafiq Dollah lwn – Plaintiff
Versus
Sarjan Mejar Abdul Manaf Jusoh & yang lain dan satu kes lagi – Defendant
GUAMAN NO S3–21–223 TAHUN 2008 DAN S6–21–161 TAHUN 2008
Police misconduct in detaining individuals unlawfully and denying them legal representation contravenes constitutional rights, resulting in vicarious liability for the state and grounds for compensation.
Headnote:(A) Constitution of Malaysia - Article 5(3) - Criminal Procedure Code - Sections 28A and 23 - Unlawful detention and assault of plaintiffs during police custody - Detention of minors requires adherence to Child Act 2001. Plaintiffs were denied right to counsel and proper reasons for arrest, leading to unlawful detention. Defendants failed to prove reasonable suspicion for arrest. Court awarded damages for unlawful detention, injuries sustained during detention, and recognized vicarious liability of the state for police actions. (Paras 40-54, 110-123, 135-149)
(B) Tort Law - Police Misconduct - Police authority to arrest and detain requires adherence to constitutional and statutory rights. The denial of legal representation and proper care during detention constitutes a breach of rights under the Malaysian Constitution, impacting claims for damages. (Paras 46, 51, 118, 144)
Facts of the case:
Plaintiffs were arrested by police officers without proper notification of the reasons for their arrests and without being allowed to consult with legal counsel. During detention, both were subjected to physical abuse to elicit confessions regarding thefts they did not commit. Treatment for injuries was inadequately provided. (Paras 4-12, 18-24, 110-112)
Findings of Court:
The court found that both plaintiffs' arrests were unlawful, the defendants violated their rights, and damages were to be awarded based on the pain, suffering, and unlawful nature of their custodial experience. (Paras 135-149)
Issues: The court addressed questions about the legality of the arrests, denial of counsel, physical abuse during detention, and implications of vicarious liability for the state. (Paras 39-80)
Ratio Decidendi: Police must inform arrestees of their rights, including legal representation; failure to do so invalidates the detention. The state bears liability for the actions of its officers in such cases of misconduct. (Paras 40-54, 126-130)
Result: Plaintiffs awarded damages including general, special, and punitive damages, totaling various amounts for emotional distress and physical injuries incurred due to police misconduct.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. introduction to plaintiffs and relevant parties (Para 1 , 2 , 16) |
| 2. details of arrest and treatment of shafiq (Para 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14) |
| 3. details of arrest and treatment of hafiz (Para 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 25) |
| 4. defendant's justification for actions (Para 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30) |
| 5. defendant's position and claims (Para 31 , 32 , 33 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38) |
| 6. agreed issues for court determination (Para 39 , 40 , 41) |
| 7. court's analysis on arrest justification (Para 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49) |
| 8. defendant's responsibility to inform (Para 50 , 51 , 52 , 53) |
| 9. assessment of police conduct and evidence (Para 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59) |
| 10. role of informant in arrest validity (Para 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66) |
| 11. lack of police report at time of arrest (Para 74 , 75 , 76) |
| 12. treatment of minors in arrests (Para 77 , 78 , 79 , 80) |
| 13. procedure for search without warrant (Para 81 , 82 , 83 , 85) |
| 14. allegations of torture during detention (Para 87 , 88 , 89 , 90) |
| 15. medical examination and evidence of harm (Para 91 , 92 , 93) |
| 16. medical expert's testimony on injuries (Para 94 , 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 , 99) |
| 17. plaintiff's trauma and mental health (Para 100 , 101 , 102 , 103) |
| 18. denial of medical treatment evidence (Para 104 , 105 , 106 , 107) |
| 19. further allegations of abuse (Para 108 , 109 , 110 , 111) |
| 20. confirmation of injuries by medical reports (Para 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 , 117 , 118 , 119) |
| 21. court's findings on abuse and injury (Para 120 , 121 , 122 , 123) |
| 22. court's determination of tort liabilities (Para 124 , 125 , 126 , 127 , 128 , 129 , 130) |
| 23. summary of court's orders and damages (Para 136 , 137 , 138 , 139 , 140 , 141 , 142 , 143 , 144 , 145 , 146 , 147 , 148 , 149) |
Rosilah Yop PK:
PENGHAKIMANPendahuluan
[1]Mohammad Shafiq bin Dollah @ Abdullah adalah plaintif dalam kes S3-21-223-2008 (akan disebut Shafiq selepas ini). Manakala Muhammad Hafiz bin Saman adalah plaintif di dalam kes S6-21-161-2008 (akan disebut Hafiz selepas ini). Ketiga-tiga defendan di dalam kedua-dua kes ini merupakan defendan- defendan yang sama di dalam kedua-dua kes ini kecuali defendan kedua di dalam kes S3-21-223-2008.
Ringkasan Kes Plaintif
[2]Shafiq adalah seorang budak yang menuntut melalui ibunya sebagai sahabat wakilnya pada masa tuntutan ini difailkan dan beralamat di M9-101 Pandan Jaya, Cheras 55100, Kuala Lumpur.
[3]SD1 iaitu Sarjan Mejar Abdul Manaf merupakan defendan pertama yang telah menangkap Shafiq.
[4]Pada 21 Mei 2008, lebih kurang 7.55 malam, Shafiq telah ditangkap oleh defendan pertama bersama anggota polis yang berkhidmat di Balai Polis Pandan Indah. Semasa tangkapan dibuat Shafiq tidak diberitahu oleh defendan pertama tentang alasan tangkapannya dan tidak juga diberitahu bahawa dia berhak untuk mendapatkan khidmat peguam dan menghubungi ahli keluarganya.
[5]Shafiq kemudiannya telah dibawa ke Balai Polis Pandan Indah untuk disoal siasat.
[6]Shafiq telah meminta daripada defendan pertama tetapi tidak dibenarkan untuk berjumpa dengan ahli keluarganya semasa di bawah tahanan polis. Shafiq juga telah meminta daripada defendan pertama untuk mendapatkan khidmat peguamcara semasa berada di dalam tahanan polis tetapi tidak dibenarkan.
[7]Semasa di Balai Polis Pandan Indah, Shafiq telah dibawa masuk ke dalam stor di mana Shafiq telah dipaksa untuk mengaku mencuri motosikal. Apabila Shafiq enggan membuat demikian, Shafiq telah dipukul, dipijak-pijak, diterajang dan ditendang oleh defendan pertama sehingga menyebabkan Shafiq terjatuh.
[8]Pada masa itu, Shafiq telah merayu kepada defendan pertama supaya tidak dipukul kerana Shafiq pernah menjalani pembedahan membuang limpa, dan luka pembedahan masih dalam proses penyembuhan dan perkara ini telah diberitahu defendan pertama dan anggotanya semasa Shafiq diarahkan masuk ke dalam stor tetapi tidak dihiraukan.
[9]Shafiq kemudiannya disoal siasat di dalam stor di Balai Polis Pandan Indah dengan tangan Shafiq bergari dan Shafiq juga tela
