TAWAU – Former Sabah assistant finance minister Datuk Ramlee Marhaban has been awarded damages after winning a suit over his unlawful detention and negligence by members of the armed forces on April 11, last year.
The Tawau Sessions Court ordered defendants Sergeant Salleh Zakaria and Major Nizam Sazali to each pay Ramlee RM5,000, and also granted Ramlee damages for assault and battery, negligence, unlawful breach of rights under the federal constitution, breach of human rights, exemplary damages, costs and statutory interest.
This follows the decision of judge Awang Keris Nada in favour of Ramlee in the same court yesterday, with the quantum of damages to be made known on December 8.
Last year, Ramlee and several of his family members were arrested on suspicion of being armed terrorists in waters off Semporna.
Ramlee was visiting his resort that was under construction in Mataking, Semporna, before his detention, despite notifying the authorities before making the trip.
Two soldiers on patrol, however, detained Ramlee and his family.
Ramlee said they were subjected to humiliating inspection process conducted in a rude and improper manner.
The soldier had also released photographs of Ramlee and his relatives taken during the incident, which were later published by the media.
Ramlee, who is also former Bugaya assemblyman, has also filed two other defamation suits – one involving Harian Metro and the other against former Joint Task Force 2 Commander Brigadier-General Datuk Zarondin Md Amin, Media Prima Bhd and Bernama.
The court also set December 8 for case management over video conferencing on the hearing for assessment of damages.
Ramlee was represented by Marcel Jude, while the two military officers were represented by a senior federal counsel. – The Vibes, November 22, 2020
