Man Who Tried To Protect Stray Dog In Viral Video Sues MPSJ
A viral video capturing the man trying to stop municipal council officers from catching a stray dog went viral last month.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 07 Nov 2019, 07:17 PM
A man is suing the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) after he was allegedly manhandled by one of their officers during an altercation last month
The 47-year-old had tried to stop MPSJ officers from taking away a stray dog.
In his civil suit filed with magistrate's court in Shah Alam, the man, Koh Tat Meng, named four defendants:
- The Selangor government,
- MPSJ,
- MPSJ president Noraini Roslan, and
- MPSJ officer Mohd Sadruddin Mohd Rosli.
Koh is being represented by lawyers Rajesh Nagarajan and Sachpreetraj Singh Sohanpal, reported The Star.
Koh is seeking RM50,000 in damages and a public apology
From left to right: lawyer Sachpreetraj Singh Sohanpal, lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan, and Koh Tat Meng.
Image via Malay MailKoh's lawyers said their client was left with no choice but to take legal action against the four defendants after failing to get in touch with them.
"We would not have had to file the suit if they would just sit down and discuss things with us," Malay Mail quoted Rajesh as saying today, 7 November.
"But they chose to ignore us, so this is the last resort."
Sadruddin has been identified as the officer who manhandled Koh, while the other three defendants are "vicariously liable" for his actions
Koh claimed Sadruddin had manhandled him after he invoked Prophet Muhammad’s name several times during the commotion, reported Free Malaysia Today.
He said he did it to ask the MPSJ officers to show compassion towards the dog.
After the incident, Koh was charged for obstructing public servants from discharging their public functions last month
The incident happened near Vista Millennium Condominium, Puchong at 11.22am on 3 October, reported New Straits Times.
Koh, who is a father of three, was charged on 18 October under Section 186 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum jail term of two years, a maximum fine of RM10,000, or both.
He pleaded not guilty to the court and claimed trial to the charge.
The case has been fixed for a mention on 26 November.
