KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 — The owner of two German Shepherds has been ordered to pay nearly RM250,000 in damages after his neighbour fractured his spine while trying to protect himself from the dogs during a jogging incident five years ago.
Sinar Harian reported that KL Sessions Court judge Zawiyah Saad found Datuk Seri Ong Thiam Boon liable for the February 10, 2021 incident involving his neighbour, Datuk Mohd Kamal Abdullah.
The court awarded Mohd Kamal RM178,457.60 in special damages and RM70,000 in general damages after a full trial.
Zawiyah reached the decision after considering witness testimony, documentary evidence and written submissions from both sides.
Ong was also ordered to pay interest of 5 per cent a year on the damages from the date of judgment until full settlement.
The court dismissed his counterclaim with costs and ordered him to pay a further RM15,000 in costs to Mohd Kamal.
In his lawsuit, Mohd Kamal alleged that two German Shepherds belonging to Ong attacked him while he was jogging at Taman Anjung Tiara in Segambut.
He said he fell while trying to protect himself from the dogs, fracturing his spine and later requiring surgery and follow-up treatment.
Mohd Kamal alleged that the incident was caused by Ong’s failure to properly control the animals and to ensure that the gate to his home remained closed.
Ong, however, denied that the dogs had attacked or even come into contact with Mohd Kamal.
According to his defence, Mohd Kamal lost his balance and fell while moving backwards on a steep and uneven road after swinging a walking stick at the two dogs.
Ong also argued that Mohd Kamal’s injuries were caused or contributed to by his own negligence.
In a counterclaim, Ong alleged that Mohd Kamal had threatened him, causing fear, humiliation and mental distress.
Mohd Kamal was represented by lawyer Shahril Madisa of Messrs Shahrul Hamidi & Haziq, while Ong was represented by Tan Shao Jia and Wong Win Xien of Messrs Manjit Singh Sachdev, Mohammad Radzi & Partners.
