The Court of Appeal cuts compensation for Altantuya Shaariibuu’s family from RM5 million to RM1.4 million, citing a recalculation of loss of dependency.
PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal has reduced the damages awarded to the family of murdered Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu from RM5 million to RM1.4 million.
A three-judge panel delivered the unanimous decision in the civil suit over her 2006 death.
Justice K. Muniandy, reading the decision, stated the original RM5 million award was primarily vindicatory rather than a proper calculation of loss of dependency.
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“Such an award cannot stand,” he said.
The court ruled that damages must be strictly limited to loss of dependency, calculated using the multiplier-multiplicand method based on Altantuya’s proven income.
This calculation is subject to statutory limits under the Civil Law Act, with funeral expenses also considered.
The appellate court also held that the government was not vicariously liable for her death.
It found the acts of the two convicted former police officers, Sirul Azhar Umar and Azilah Hadri, were committed outside the scope of their duty. – Bernama
