Govt admits full liability in three suits

IPOH: The Government yesterday admitted full liability in three suits over the death of a seven-year-old boy and injuries to a medical sales representative when a police constable went amok in Ipoh Garden here in 1995.

High Court judge Justice P.S. Gill, who heard the matter in chambers, fixed April 18 to decide on the quantum to be paid to the plaintiffs.

Acting for the Government was Federal Counsel Abdul Rani Megat Kassim while Jagdeep Singh Deo was the counsel for the plaintiffs.

Two suits filed on Dec 27, 1996 by three plaintiffs were consolidated to be heard together.

The first suit was filed by sales representative Leong Lee Kwan, 53, the father of seven-year-old Leong Sin Mun, who was killed in the incident.

The second suit was filed by medical sales representative Yeoh Lee Lee, 39, and her eight-year-old son Chew Jin Yew for injuries sustained during the shootout.

The suits named the Inspector-General of Police and the Perak chief police officer as the first two defendants. The Government was named as the third defendant.

On Sept 28, 1995, Constable Baharom Ahmad went on a shooting spree along Jalan Canning Estate, causing the death of Sin Mun, who was in a car with his father at 1.30pm.

The constable also shot at Yeoh's car at about 1.20pm, injuring her right arm (which has not healed till today) and leaving her son psychologically affected.

While Leong is claiming special damages of RM3,850, Yeoh and Chew are claiming RM124,319.67 which included medical treatment for her arm and damages to her car.

The plaintiffs are also claiming general, exemplary and aggravated damages.