GEORGE TOWN: A state assemblyman who is being sued over a borrowed Mercedes-Benz told the magistrate’s court that he was willing to pay RM7,000 for damaging the vehicle in an accident.
Batu Uban PKR assemblyman Dr T. Jayabalan however said he would not pay compensation to Penang Hospital College of Nursing deputy director T. Saroja Devi, 57, the owner of the Mercedes-Benz.
He said Saroja Devi’s husband P. Janarthanan, 63, did not ask him to seek Saroja Devi’s permission before using the car.
“No conditions were laid down and the car keys were given to my two assistants and this shows that there was no objection to another person driving the car,” he replied when questioned by his counsel Datuk C.V. Prabhakaran.
He then told the court that he was willing to pay RM7,000 in damages but not the compensation sought by Soraja Devi.
“I wish to settle the case as there is no need for the dispute to go further.
“I am prepared to pay as I had asked to borrow the car,” he told the court during hearing yesterday.
Saroja Devi lodged two police reports against Dr Jayabalan on Oct 8 and Nov 22, 2014, after learning that her car had been in an accident on Aug 24, 2014. She later sued Dr Jayabalan for allegedly borrowing her car without her consent
She is seeking general, special and exemplary damages, a compensation of RM15,000 for the car and loss of RM100 a day from not being able to use her car from the accident until the case is completed.
The hearing before magistrate Aziana Azib continues on Aug 8 and Aug 11 for cross-examination by Saroja Devi’s counsel S. Raveen Tharan.
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