THE owner of two German Shepherds has been ordered to pay RM248,457.60 in damages to his neighbour, who suffered a fractured spine following an incident involving the dogs in Segambut five years ago.
Sessions Court judge Zawiyah Saad found the defendant, Datuk Seri Ong Thiam Boon, liable for the incident involving plaintiff Datuk Mohd Kamal Abdullah on 10 February 2021.
The court in Kuala Lumpur awarded Mohd Kamal RM178,457.60 in special damages and RM70,000 in general damages after considering witness testimony, documentary evidence and written submissions from both sides following a full trial.
Thiam Boon was also ordered to pay five per cent annual interest on the total award from the date of judgment until full settlement.
The court dismissed his counterclaim with costs and ordered him to pay RM15,000 in global costs to the plaintiff.
In his suit, Mohd Kamal claimed that the two dogs attacked him while he was jogging at Taman Anjung Tiara, Segambut.
He said he fell while attempting to protect himself from the dogs, suffering a fractured spine that required surgery and subsequent treatment.
Mohd Kamal claimed the incident resulted from the defendant’s failure to properly control the dogs and ensure the gate to his property remained securely closed.
Thiam Boon, however, denied that the dogs had attacked or come into contact with the plaintiff.
In his defence, he claimed Mohd Kamal lost his balance and fell while moving backwards on a steep and uneven road after swinging a stick at the two dogs.
The defendant further argued that the plaintiff’s injuries were caused or contributed to by his own negligence.
In his counterclaim, Thiam Boon alleged that Mohd Kamal had threatened him, causing him fear, humiliation and mental distress.
Mohd Kamal was represented by lawyer Shahril Madisa of Messrs Shahrul Hamidi & Haziq, while Ong was represented by Tan Shao Jia and Wong Win Xien of Messrs Manjit Singh Sachdev, Mohammad Radzi & Partners. - August 29, 2026
