NG WAI PIN v ONG YEW TEIK

02i-38-09-2024w Federal Court (Mahkamah Persekutuan) 6 March 2025 • 02(i)-38-09/2024(W) • 97 min read
44 cases cited (2 SG, 42 foreign)

Catchwords

Practice Areas

Judges (3)

Counsel (6)

Parties (2)

Case Significance

NG WAI PIN v ONG YEW TEIK is a Federal Court (Mahkamah Persekutuan) decision dated March 6, 2025 (citation: 02i-38-09-2024w). <p>Four appeals concerned whether witnesses enjoy absolute immunity from civil liability for evidence given in judicial proceedings, and whether the tort of malicious prosecution applies in civil proceedings in Malaysia. The Federal Court held that witness immunity is not absolute where fraud and perjury are alleged, and that the tort of malicious prosecution may extend to civil proceedings. The appeals were dismissed and the Court of Appeal's decision to remit for full trial was upheld.</p> The panel comprised Hanipah binti Farikullah, Rhodzariah binti Bujang and Zabariah binti Mohd Yusof, with Rhodzariah binti Bujang delivering the judgment. Counsel appearing: Dato' Sri Rajan Navaratnam (counsel for respondent), Elizabeth Lau (counsel for appellant), Hazel Siau (counsel for appellant), Oazair bin Huneid Tyeb (counsel for respondent).

Summary

Four appeals concerned whether witnesses enjoy absolute immunity from civil liability for evidence given in judicial proceedings, and whether the tort of malicious prosecution applies in civil proceedings in Malaysia. The Federal Court held that witness immunity is not absolute where fraud and perjury are alleged, and that the tort of malicious prosecution may extend to civil proceedings. The appeals were dismissed and the Court of Appeal's decision to remit for full trial was upheld.

What was the outcome of NG WAI PIN v ONG YEW TEIK?

<p>Four appeals concerned whether witnesses enjoy absolute immunity from civil liability for evidence given in judicial proceedings, and whether the t...

Statutes Cited

Penal Code (Cap 574)
Rules of Court 2012

Cases Cited (44)

SG (1)
[2018] SGCA 50
SLR (1)
[2017] 1 SLR 546
UK (23)
[1947] AC 390 [1959] 1 QB 45 [1962] 1 QB 237 [1963] 1 QB 528 [1969] 1 AC 191 [1970] 1 QB 283 [1971] AC 470 [1992] QB 483 [1994] QB 179 [1996] EWCA Civ 1311 [1999] 2 AC 177 [2000] 3 WLR 747 [2000] QB 75 [2000] UKHL 3 [2000] UKHL 44 [2001] 1 AC 435 [2002] 1 AC 615 [2011] 2 AC 398 [2011] 2 WLR 823 [2013] 1 WLR 3052 [2013] UKPC 17 [2015] EWCA Civ 680 [2016] WLR 477
AU (4)
[2005] HCA 12 [2007] NSWCA 370 [2010] NSWSC 811 [2013] NSWSC 775
MY (13)
[1982] 1 MLJ 365 [1993] 3 MLJ 36 [1993] 4 CLJ 7 [1996] 3 MLJ 259 [1998] 2 CLJ 340 [1998] 2 MLJ 425 [2010] 2 MLJ 141 [2010] 5 MLJ 394 [2016] 3 CLJ 1 [2016] 3 MLJ 1 [2019] 12 MLJ 1 [2020] MLJU 2593 [2025] 1 CLJ 851
HK (2)
[2016] 6 HKC 494 [2017] 5 HKC 42