Widow files RM1m suit over death of husband

(NST) - The wife and children of a man who died in the lock-up of the Kulai magistrate's court in 2005, filed a RM1 million negligence suit against the police at the High Court here yesterday.

V. Jagathiswary, 29, and her children, Manosh Rao, 7, and Rubhan Rao, 6, allege that the Senai police station head, the government and six policemen had failed to provide medical treatment for Jiwa Ramamorthy who had head injuries.

Jiwa, then 27, was arrested between 12.30am and 4.20am on April 11, 2005 for an alleged robbery and taken to the Senai police station for questioning.

At the time of his arrest, Jiwa had sustained head injuries from being beaten by a vigilante group in Taman Jaya Senai.

After being held in the Senai police station lock-up, Jiwa was taken to the Kulai magistrate's court later in the morning to be remanded.

At 10.30am, while waiting for the remand proceedings, Jiwa died in the lock-up.

Jagathiswary, who is also acting on behalf of her children, stated in her writ that the police had failed to provide treatment for her husband's head and other injuries after he was arrested.

She said she and her children had lost their source of income and support provided by Jiwa who was earning RM1,100 a month as a lorry driver.

In the suit filed by Jagathiswary's counsel, Gobind Singh Deo, she is seeking RM1 million compensation, RM10,000 for bereavement costs, interests and others deemed fit by the court.

Jagathiswary said outside the courthouse yesterday that she learned of her husband's death after being informed by a friend.