1. ) ANTON WARJONO 2. ) FONNY IMANUEL MALAU 3. ) MUCHAMAD ZAINUL ABIDIN 4. ) FERDIAN NOVI YURIZKI 5. ) MUKHLISIN YUDIANTO 6. ) FAISHOL ARDI WIRANATA 7. ) SAPLI RESKI 8. ) ABDUL AZIZ 9. ) NOVAL 10. ) MOH SAFIK UDRUS v 1. ) MOHD KHAIRI BIN OTHMAN 2. ) MOHD AZHIMAN BIN MOHD AZRI@MOHD ASRI 3. ) KETUA PENGARAH JABATAN KASTAM DIRAJA MALAYSIA 4. ) Kerajaan Malaysia

ka-21ncvc-4-06-2023 High Court (Mahkamah Tinggi) 28 March 2026 • KA-21NCvC-4-06/2023 • 27 min read

18 cases cited (0 SG, 18 foreign)

Catchwords

TORT: Malicious prosecution — Elements of — Action against Customs officers and Government for malicious prosecution following acquittal in criminal trial — Whether Defendants acted with malice — Whether there was absence of reasonable and probable cause — Distinction between reasonable suspicion and prima facie proof — Whether criminal acquittal equates to civil liability — Customs Act 1967, ss. 132 & 145B. TORT: Wrongful arrest and false imprisonment — Limitation of action — Suit filed more than 36 months after arrest — Whether claims time-barred under Public Authorities Protection Act 1948, s. 2(a). PUBLIC AUTHORITIES: Vicarious liability — Government Proceedings Act 1956, ss. 5 & 6 — Whether Government can be held vicariously liable when claims against primary tortfeasors fail. EVIDENCE: Burden of proof — Section 103 of the Evidence Act 1950 — Plaintiffs alleging vessel entered territorial waters solely for bunkering — Failure of Plaintiffs to adduce statutory maritime documents — Whether burden of proof discharged.

Judges (1)

John Lee Kien How @ Mohammad Johan Lee Delivered

Counsel (4)

Attorney General Chambers Firm Rajadevan & Associates Firm Norshuhada binti Mohd Yatim Counsel Defendant V. Rajadevan Counsel Plaintiff

Parties (14)

KETUA PENGARAH JABATAN KASTAM DIRAJA MALAYSIA Defendant Kerajaan Malaysia Defendant Abdul Aziz Plaintiff Anton Warjono Plaintiff Faishol Ardi Wiranata Plaintiff Ferdian Novi Yurizki Plaintiff Fonny Imanuel Malau Plaintiff Moh Safik Udrus Plaintiff Mohd Azhiman bin Mohd Azri@mohd Asri Defendant Mohd Khairi bin Othman Defendant Muchamad Zainul Abidin Plaintiff Mukhlisin Yudianto Plaintiff Noval Plaintiff Sapli Reski Plaintiff

Statutes Cited

Customs Act 1967 (Cap 235)

s 132 s 135 s 135(1)(a) s 2

Evidence Act 1950 (Cap 56)

Federal Constitution

Federal Constitution Government Proceedings Act 1956 (Cap 359)

Penal Code (Cap 574)

Public Authorities Protection Act 1948 (Cap 198)

Statutes Customs Act 1967 (Cap 235)

Cases Cited (18)

UK (1)

[1962] AC 726

MY (17)

[1964] 30 MLJ 74 [1966] 2 MLJ 201 [1969] 2 MLJ 219 [1981] 1 MLJ 139 [1999] 6 MLJ 800 [2001] 4 CLJ 599 [2007] 7 MLJ 1 [2014] 11 MLJ 481 [2015] 10 MLJ 218 [2015] 4 MLJ 34 [2016] 5 MLJ 171 [2017] 7 MLJ 775 [2018] 4 MLJ 262 [2021] 5 MLJ 209 [2021] MLJU 2510 [2024] 11 MLJ 381 [2025] 2 CLJ 115

Judgment

Read the full judgment on the official Malaysia Courts portal.

Read on eJudgment

Source: eJudgment (ka-21ncvc-4-06-2023)