Court Dismisses Negligence Suit by Family of Naval Cadet Killed in Training, Appeal Planned

KUALA LUMPUR — The Sessions Court has rejected the negligence suit filed by the family of the late naval cadet J. Soosaimanicckam, who died during a training exercise in Lumut, Perak, on May 19, 2018. Judge Idah Ismail ruled that the family failed to prove negligence on the "balance of probabilities" and ordered them to pay RM10,000 in legal costs to the government.

Soosaimanicckam’s family had accused the government and 14 others of failing to provide timely medical treatment after he was allegedly subjected to physical punishment during training. A post-mortem revealed his death was due to pulmonary oedema caused by leptospirosis.

However, in July, the High Court ruled that Soosaimanicckam’s death was a homicide, overturning a coroner’s court finding. His family’s lawyer, Zaid Malek, confirmed they would appeal the Sessions Court’s decision to the High Court.