Almost three years after container operator Shahril Azlan Ahmad Kamil was allegedly shot by police, and yet to receive satisfactory justification for this, the 28-year-old today initiated legal action against the force.

The lawsuit filed in the Shah Alam Court Complex this morning names Shah Alam district police chief, inspector-general of police and the Malaysian government as defendants.

NONE Shahril ( centre in photo ) states in his suit that the police had abused their power by shooting him with intent to kill, and without any just cause.

He is seeking RM18,120 in special damages for the 15-month period he had underdone recuperation, and for repairs done to his vehicle that was damaged in the incident.

Shahril is also asking for an unspecified amount in general damages and aggravated damages, with an eight percent interest rate from the date of the lawsuit.

Shahril has alleged that he was shot by police officers on April 16, 2009, in Section 7 of Shah Alam while he was reversing his vehicle in a bid to evade a police roadblock.

He panicked upon seeing the roadblock and tried to escape as the road tax for his car has expired.

NONE The lawsuit today comes after the police had failed to respond to two reports lodged on the shooting.

Shahril’s father had lodged a police report a few hours after the incident, and a second report was lodged on May 19, 2010.

Asked why the lawsuit was being filed almost three years after the incident, lawyer Syuhaini Safwan explained: “We were busy gathering evidence, and also the time frame to file a lawsuit is about to expire in a few days.”

No criminal charge filed

Speaking to journalists at the court lobby, Syuhaini said the explanation by the police that Shahril was a criminal was unfounded.

“He has not been charged by the police for any criminal offence until now,” she said.

NONE Syuhaini (right in photo) added that an assistant commissioner of police visited Shahril after the shooting incident and had admitted that the police officers who opened fire were negligent.

She said the sole bullet that hit Shahril, penetrated his arm and proceeded to his rib cage before lodging itself in his spine.

“Until today the bullet remains in his spine,” she added.

This is not the first lawsuit filed against police for their alleged “ trigger-happy ” behaviour.

In May 2010, Siti Nasrinda sued the police for RM2 million for “blind and wild rampant” shooting which caused her to sustain injury in her waist.

In another incident about five months after Shahril’s incident, Norizan Salleh was shot five times by police while travelling in a car drived by a friend.

Police claimed that the vehicle had attempted to ram them but Norizan insisted that she was shot from the back.

Also, a fatal police shooting took place on April 26 when 15-year-old Aminulrasyid Amzah was shot and killed in Section 11, Shah Alam, when fleeing from police in a vehicle.

Corporal Jenain Subi, who killed the teenaged Aminulrasyid,has been  sentenced to five years in prison.