A Malaysian businessmen, who was held without trial for three years under a harsh security law, won $1million (R7,7m) in damages from the government yesterday in a landmark court verdict, his lawyer said.

A Malaysian businessmen, who was held without trial for three years under a harsh security law, won $1million (R7,7m) in damages from the government yesterday in a landmark court verdict, his lawyer said.

High court Judge Mohamad Hisha-muddin Mohamad Yunus ruled that Badrul Zaman PS Mohamed's detention under the Internal Security Act in 1991 was wrongful and illegal, said lawyer M.Manoharan.

Badrul, 58, was arrested in 1991 for allegedly issuing fake Malaysian passports to illegal Sri Lankan immigrants seeking to use Malaysia as a transit point to migrate to Europe.

Badrul was never charged and was freed in 1994 after challenging the validity of his detention in court.

Manoharan said the government was also likely to appeal the court's verdict in Badrul's case. - Sapa-AP