The Shah Alam High Court has upheld the Coroner’s Court decision that the police shooting of tow-truck driver Dinesh Dharmasena was an accident.

High Court judge Nurchaya Arshad said the Coroner’s Court did not err in finding that Dinesh's death was misadventure due to gunshot wounds.

Misadventure refers to death due to accident without violation of law or criminal negligence.

Therefore, Nurchaya dismissed a bid by Dinesh’s family members for a fresh inquest.

The decision was arrived at after the court reviewed among others, the police’s closely-guarded Inspector-General’s Standing Orders (IGSO), which outlines the cops’ standard operating procedures.

The court had on Oct 24 ordered the police to release its IGSO on firearms, a document which the police have fiercely kept as secret.

The court, as well as Eric Paulsen ( right ), the lawyer for Dinesh’s family, were for the first time allowed a glimpse of the IGSO.

Paulsen, when contacted, said a review of the document did not reveal anything improper despite previous suspicions arising from the secretiveness of the police.

“When I read the IGSO, there was nothing much. It outlines when police can or cannot shoot. There was nothing improper.

“Generally, it follows whatever rules there are for firearms and also quoted laws such as the Evidence Act, there was nothing shocking,” he said.

However, Paulsen, who now possesses a copy of the IGSO on firearms, said he needed to consult other lawyers if the document is to be released in full to the public as authorities claim it is under the Official Secrets Act.

“But to us, since it is used in court, it should be a public document,” he said.

Dinesh, 26, was shot on Aug 21, 2012 during a shootout between police and suspected gangsters. He died of his injuries two days later.

In May, the Ampang Coroner’s Court ruled that Dinesh’s death was due to misadventure due to gunshot wounds.