Magistrate Naziah Mohd Alias awarded R Santhi special and general damages including interests and costs after finding the defendants to be negligent during the incident.

Santhi, 52, had named ATM as the second defendant and the government as the third defendant.

In the incident on Aug 4, 2019 the armored vehicle, which was on its way from Batu 10 Camp in Kuantan, Pahang to Port Dickson, crashed into the Proton Wira driven by Santhi at Jalan Lingkaran Tengah, near Ampangan, at 4:30pm.

“That was the vehicle I used to commute for 17 years and it is my family’s favourite car. I am thankful that I only suffered minor injuries,” Santhi was quoted as saying in a Harian Metro report.

She said heavy vehicles such as armored vehicles like the Gempita V8 which rammed into her Proton Wira had a limited line of sight and should be accompanied by military or traffic police to prevent them from endangering road users.

She also said that if they were unable to be escorted, the roads used for such convoys should be closed to public vehicles.

Lawyer N Naresh said the decision was not just a victory but it was justice for his client after more than two years.

Naresh said it was time for the ATM to review its procedures for large convoy vehicles such as the Gempita armoured vehicle.