High Court sets July 29 for decision on navy cadet's inquest ruling

IPOH: The High Court here has set July 29 as the date for its decision on the open verdict ruling by the inquest into the death of Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) cadet J. Soosaimanicckam.

Judge Abdul Wahab Mohamed set the date after lawyer Zaid Malek challenged the Coroner’s Court’s open verdict on June 23.

Zaid aimed to get the open verdict changed to death caused by other individuals or parties. During his submission, he said that death was reportedly due to pulmonary edema as a result of leptospirosis.

He also noted that the deceased failed to be provided early treatment that caused a deterioration to his condition.

On June 23, the Sessions Court, which sat as Coroner’s Court, returned an open verdict for the inquest into the death of the cadet after Coroner Ainul Shahrin Mohamad revealed that the cause of Soosaimanicckam’s death on May 19, 2018, was due to pulmonary edema.

Based on reports, Ainul Shahrin said the deceased had passed out and was rushed to the Lumut Armed Forces Hospital and confirmed to have died.

The navy announced in a statement on May 20, 2018, that the deceased had complained of chest pains and breathing difficulty in his dormitory after completing his daily physical training at 12.20pm.

He was then given breathing assistance and further treatment by a doctor on duty, and was confirmed dead at 1.45pm.

The deceased’s father S. Joseph, 71 and brother Charles Joseph, 38, were in court for today’s proceedings.