Bangladeshi sues Malaysian govt for wrongful jailing

A Bangladesh national, whose conviction and sentencing for illegally entering Malaysia was set aside by the High Court, has filed a case against Malaysian government. Alamin Sheikh Badsha, 28, filed the suit against the Malaysian government, director-general and investigating officer of the Immigration Department, inspector-general of police, Penang police chief and the investigating police officer for RM 3 million (RM 1 million for each stroke). He is claiming RM 3 million in damages for “torture and suffering” he had to sustain as a result of the three strokes of the rattan he received as punishment and RM 2.25 million for the 90 days he was jailed. Alamin is also claiming for, among others, general damages, special damages, damages for pain and suffering, and damages for the loss of manhood due to the caning. He named Ridzuan Yusof from the Passport and Security Division of the Immigration Department, Immigration Department director-general Aloyah Mamat, investigating officer Sarjan Mahayun Zuhairi Yadi Zukuri, Penang police chief Senior Deputy Comm Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar as defendants. Alamin said in the statement of claim in his suit, which was filed on March 20, that he was a legal foreign worker with a permit valid until July 19, 2014. He said he was hired by a construction company in Bukit Mertajam with a monthly pay of RM 1,300. He said he was arrested on June 28 last year and subsequently jailed three months and given three strokes of the rattan by the Bukit Mertajam magistrate’s court for not having valid travel documents. Alamin added that the High Court, on Oct 25 last year, allowed his application for a revision of the case and set aside the conviction and sentence but he had already served his jail term and was caned by then, according The Star, a Malaysian newspaper.