In the final day of testimony in the Singapore High Court trial between casino player Adesh Goel and Resorts World Sentosa, in which Mr Goel is claiming damages for false imprisonment, assault and battery as well as negligence and breach of duty of care, evidence has emerged as to RWS’ relationship with their security contractor, SATS.
Officer Anuar Bin Kamas volunteered that during the incident on 22 April 2012 he acted on RWS instructions as “they are the paymaster”.
Mr Sreenivasan SC, Managing Partner of Straits Law LLC and lawyer for RWS, did not ask Officer Anuar if he was exercising his Police Powers on the night, even though RWS’ defence includes the proposition that the SATS Auxiliary Police Officers (APO’s) were “exercising their police powers in their own right and not as servants or agents for RWS” in their interactions with Mr Goel.
Mr Kamas said in his own evaluation he was concerned that Mr Goel may breach the peace if he was let out of the cool off room, but no actual actionable offence had ever been committed by Mr Goel.
It was Mr Goel who called the Singapore Police force to be liberated from the room.
Under the Singapore Penal Code section 339 and 340, wrongful restraint and confinement is a crime. Under section 320 of the Singapore Penal Code, voluntarily causing grievous hurt, which specially includes fracture or dislocation of a bone is also a crime.
Both RWS and SATS conceded, as was confirmed by their own medical experts, that Mr Goel’s shoulder was broken during the incident.
At one point during his evidence Mr Anaur said, “we are not criminals”. Mr Abraham Vergis of Providence Law Asia LLC, Counsel for Mr Goel replied to Mr Anaur’s statement by saying “That’s one perspective”.
Following the conclusion of all factual and expert witnesses Justice Choo Han Teck instructed parties to make written closing submissions and has adjourned the matter to September.
Despite direct requests from WGM, RWS declined to comment on the case.
