KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has awarded the wife of activist Amri Che Mat, who went missing in 2016, with RM3mil in damages over his disappearance.
In his decision Wednesday (Nov 5), Justice Su Tiang Joo said Noorhayati Mohd Ariffin had proven her case on the balance of probabilities.
He found the government to be liable for Amri's disappearance and ordered the police to reopen their investigation into the case and to appraise their progress to the Attorney General every two months.
"I find there was a lack of effort to keep Amri's family updated," he said.
The court noted there was a wrongful classification in Amri's case when it should have been classified as an abduction and not missing person.
Justice Su said the authorities had infringed on Noorhayati's right to life as protected under Article 5(1) of the Federal Constitution when the defendants failed to carry out an effective investigation into Amri's disappearance.
The court awarded the plaintiff RM14,457.52 in special damages, RM2mil in general and aggravated damages, RM1mil in exemplary damages as well as interests.
The court also awarded RM250,000 in costs to the plaintiff.
Norhayati had filed the lawsuit to seek damages for the loss she suffered.
Amri was allegedly abducted in Perlis close to midnight on Nov 24, 2016.
The vehicle he used was subsequently found in an abandoned construction site at Bukit Chabang, Perlis, at around 12.30am the next day.
