The man said the decision by the High Court in Malaysia was a win for justice.
KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 (The Straits Times/ANN): A High Court in Malaysia has allowed a Singaporean man to seek a declaration that he was unlawfully detained for eight days by the country's immigration authorities in 2018.
Wong Chun Khuen, 65, a retired engineer, was arrested by immigration officers on Feb 28, 2018, for allegedly harbouring six illegal immigrants.
He owned the house in Johor Bahru where the illegal immigrants were staying, and was arrested when he was at the premises purportedly to carry out repair works.
Under the Malaysian Constitution, he was required to be produced before a magistrate by March 12 that year. But he was only brought to court on March 26.
Wong pleaded guilty before a court in Johor Bahru for immigration offences, and was fined RM30,000 (S$9,600) or six months' jail in default.
He immediately paid the fine but instead of being released, he was detained for another eight days and deported back to Singapore on April 4.
Malaysian lawyer Arun Kasi, who is representing Wong, told The Straits Times on Friday (July 1) that the application by Malaysia's Attorney-General's Chambers to strike out his client's legal challenge over the eight-day detention was dismissed by High Court Judge Noorin Badaruddin on Wednesday. This allows the suit to be heard in the High Court.
"He should have been immediately released on March 26, 2018, after receiving a court discharge order, but he was only let out on April 4, 2018. There was an additional eight days of detention, which we declare as illegal," said Mr Arun.
"So now, we will have a day for the court to hear it. The judge has fixed Aug 24 for mention of the case."
On May 5 last year, Wong obtained a court declaration that his 13-day detention by the immigration authorities - from March 14 to 26 in 2018 - was illegal. The High Court found that he was not produced before a magistrate within 14 days of his arrest.
Speaking to ST on Friday evening, Wong said the decision by the court was a win for justice.
"Everyone told me there's no way I could win, so this is a wonderful development," he said.
"I want justice, I want to fight to clear my name. I want to do this so that no other foreigner will have to go through what I went through."
Wong has not been able to return to Malaysia since the incident, and has had to sell three of the properties he owned there.
He said: "I will pursue further action, but will need to discuss with my legal team first on the best course of action to take from here." - The Straits Times/ANN
