Widow of security guard who died after alleged assault gets Socso payment, life pension

IPOH: The widow of the security guard who died recently after allegedly being assaulted by a homestay guest at a condominium here last year has received RM12,737 in temporary disability benefits from the Social Security Organisation (Socso).

The sum is the payment for the period where S. Thava Sagayam, 64, was unable to work from the day of the incident to the day of his death.

E. Philomena, 59, will also receive a lifelong pension of about RM1,140 a month, which she said will be used to cover her daily living costs.

"The money will be used to pay bills and food. I am glad to receive the money as it will lessen my burden," she said after receiving a cheque from Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan at her house in Taman Buntong Ria here on Friday (Sept 3).

Thava Sagayam died on Aug 27, with a post-mortem finding that he died due to sepsis, which was caused by an infection in his lungs.

The security guard had sustained head injuries after allegedly being assaulted by a guest at the condominium he was working at following an argument on Dec 29 last year.

He was rushed to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in a semi-conscious state.

The guest was charged at the Magistrate's Court here under Section 335 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing grievous hurt on grave and sudden provocation.

Following Thava Sagayam’s death, police had on Aug 30 reclassified the case as murder, which carries the mandatory death sentence if convicted.

Philomena said the incident was senseless as her husband was only performing his duty.

“People were not allowed to use the swimming pool during the movement control order. He was only following orders,” she said, adding that she wanted justice.