Feb 18 hearing on woman’s bid to be intervenor in suit by Samy Vellu’s son

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has set February 18 to hear an application by a woman claiming to be the wife of former MIC president Tun S. Samy Vellu to be an intervenor in Datuk Seri S.Vell Paari’s lawsuit to have Samy Vellu’s mental health determined by the court.

Lawyer R.S.N. Rayer, representing Meeriam Rosaline Edward Paul, 60, told reporters on the date when met after the case management, which was held in chambers before judge Datuk Mohd Sofian Abd Razak yesterday.

He said the application was filed last December 17.

Vell Paari filed the suit against Samy Vellu, 83, last December 2, seeking a court order that an investigation be conducted to ascertain the mental fitness of his father, and whether the former MIC president and Works Minister has the capacity to manage himself and his matters.

In the suit, Vell Paari sought an order that a date, time and place be set for an investigation to be conducted under Section 52 of the Mental Health Act 2001 on his father, to determine the period his father had been suffering mental disorder.

He also sought a court order to find out if his father is capable of giving orders to his lawyer to act on his behalf (Samy Vellu) and to determine the types of property his father owned.

The former MIC secretarygeneral also requested that consultant neuropsychiatrist and Neurobehavioural Medicine head at the Penang Adventist Hospital, Dr Prem Kumar Chandrasekaran, 52, or other mental health experts, be given access to examine his father personally and prepare a report on the defendant’s mental capacity.

In the event that the defendant is found to be suffering from a mental disorder and incapable of managing himself and his affairs, Vell Paari will seek that several individuals including himself (plaintiff) and lawyer Datuk C. Vijaya Kumar be appointed by the court as committee members to manage the defendant’s estate.

If the individuals are allowed by the court to be appointed as committee members, the plaintiff will seek that the court determine the powers of the committee, set a provision for its costs and expenses as well as remuneration to be paid to the members.