KUALA LUMPUR: Navy cadet officer J. Soosaimanicckam had completed his daily physical training despite looking tired on the day he died, the Sessions Court here was told.
Lt Nur Suhana Kasim Bakri, who was on duty that day, said the deceased participated in physical activities such as running for three rounds and push-ups.
“He continued with his training but he was not as active as other cadets,” she said yesterday.
The witness was under a cross-examination by the plaintiff’s lawyer Latheefa Koya in a civil lawsuit filed by Soosaimanicckam’s father S. Joseph against 11 navy officers, the navy commander, Malaysian Armed Forces Council, Defence Minister, and Malaysian government as the first to 15th defendants.
She is also the fifth defendant in the civil action.
According to the witness statement, Lt Nur Suhana said that after the physical training was completed, the cadets including Soosaimanicckam were required to undergo a Body Mass Index check and then do cleaning activities at their living quarters.
At this interval, Lt Nur Suhana said she was away at the Armed Forces Hospital (HAT) in Lumut to check on other cadets there sometime between 10am and 12.30pm.
When she returned, she was told by another officer that Soosaimanicckam was sick. The witness said she gave the order to bring the cadet to the hospital.
“There was no sick form to fill because to me, it was an emergency,” she said.
Soosaimanicckam was brought to the hospital by two other officers while Lt Nur Suhana went to the hospital separately.
Upon her arrival, she said Soosaimanicckam was already in the Emergency Department.
“A doctor came and said that he died at about 1.45pm,” she added.
Lt Nur Suhana said she subsequently informed her commanding officer, Kapt Jamsari Tahir, who told her to inform the deceased’s family.
When asked how she knew to contact the family, Lt Nur Suhana said she could not remember.
Latheefa: How did you get information on the deceased’s family?Lt Nur Suhana: I don’t remember.
Latheefa: I’m sure you don’t have Soosaimanicckam’s name in your phone. How did you know who to contact?
Lt Nur Suhana: I don’t remember.A war of words broke out when Latheefa asked the witness repeatedly to clarify her answers.
Sessions Court judge Idah Ismail then told Latheefa to rephrase her questions to be “more specific”.
The hearing continues on Aug 19.
