IPOH, July 29: The Ipoh High Court here today declared the death of naval cadet J.Soosaimanicckam as homicide, substituting the earlier “Open Verdict” declared by the Sessions Court here.
Judge Dato Abdul Wahab who gave his decision at the end of a trial following an appeal from the family on the earlier court decision’s said: “Considering all the evidence before the Inquest and Coroner’s limited judicial appreciation of them, this Court therefore set aside the findings of the “Open Verdict” of the learned Coroner and substitute with “homicide” that the cause of the death of the deceased is Pulmonary Oedema caused by Leptospirosis, and that his ultimately death is a direct consequence of the Malaysian Royal Navy (TLDM) officers in charge of the cadet training in denying the deceased to seek medical treatment..”.
The brother of Soosaimanickam, Charles, who was present at the court today said that while the family felt vindicated with the verdict, they were also extremely disappointed with TLDM as the decision today clearly indicated the possibility of his brother being alive if only timely medical assistance had been given to him.
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