KOTA KINABALU: The family of a delivery rider, who died after hitting a pothole at the Lido flyover here earlier this month, has filed for compensation from the state Public Works Department.
A legal notice of demand was delivered to the office of the Sabah PWD director's office by counsel Abraham Ysrael from the Michael Denis Tan and Co law firm at about noon Monday (Feb 17).
When contacted, the family's counsel Ysrael confirmed that his firm has delivered the letter of demand to the office of Sabah JKR director.However, he declined to disclose the amount of compensation demanded by the family who had requested to remain anonymous.
The legal action follows the death of the 38-year-old motorcyclist, who is the sole breadwinner for his family consisting of his housewife widow, 39, three young children aged 5,8,12, and his elderly father and his grandmother.
According to the legal letter of demand, on Feb 3, the deceased was working as Pemandu Hantar Barang (Delivery Rider) while out on his duties on a busy workday, he encountered a pothole that had not been properly repaired or maintained.
As a result, the deceased was thrown off his motorbike, sustaining serious injuries, the letter of demand stated.
Despite receiving medical attention, the injuries proved to be fatal and he succumbed to them approximately an hour later, after enduring pain and suffering.
"We are instructed to demand compensation and damages for bereavement damages, loss of financial support, funeral expenses and other damages arising from the incident," the legal letter said.
The local man in his 30s died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital I at 1.30pm following the incident that occurred at around 11.15am.
Following the accident, Kota Kinabalu City OCPD Asst Comm Kasim Muda said that preliminary police investigations showed that the victim was thrown from his motorcycle after hitting a pothole at the Lido flyover here.
He said the victim succumbed to head and bodily injuries while undergoing treatment at the emergency unit of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.The pothole accident had raised questions about the upkeep of city roads by the maintenance contractors appointed by the government.
