KUALA LUMPUR- The death in custody case of luxury car theft suspect A. Kugan was adjourned to Monday as lawyer Sivarasa Rasiah was admitted to hospital.
Co-counsel R.L. Pani Prakash informed High Court judge Datuk V.T.Singham that Sivarasa had collapsed in his house yesterday due to a throat problem and was rushed to hospital.
Sivarasa was suppose to cross-examine Deputy-Inspector General of Police and former Selangor police chief Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.
Pani then applied for the case to be adjourned.
Senior Federal Counsel Azizan Md Arshad did not object to the postponement but queried whether another counsel could take over questioning Khalid and five other witnesses.
Pani said it was Sivarasa who had been cross-examining the witnesses.
When Singham asked if another lawyer would take over should Sivarasa be absent, Pani said he would have to check with Sivarasa.
Singham said another lawyer in the legal team must continue with the matter as this case was registered on Jan 13.
"This case has attracted public interest and should not be adjourned as long as justice is not hurried," he said.
Early this year Kugan's mother N. Indra, as administrator of his estate, filed a suit against the government for alleged negligence and breach of statutory duty.
Apart from Khalid, ex-Subang Jaya District Police Chief ACP Zainal Rashid Abu Bakar and constable V. Navindran were named as defendants in the suit.
In her statement of claim, Indra alleged that the defendants had failed to ensure the safety, health and welfare of Kugan while he was in police custody.
Kugan, then 22 years old, was arrested in Puchong on Jan 14, 2009, and held overnight at the Puchong Jaya police lock before police obtained a remand order.
He was brought to the Taipan USJ, Subang Jaya police station, on Jan 16 for questioning but was found dead four days later.
- New Straits Times
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