'Pathologist failed to question MACC officers'

The theory that a homicide had occurred in the death of Teoh Beng Hock cannot be presented because of the failure on the part of the pathologist in questioning the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers, an inquest proceedings was told today.

Lawyer Gobind Singh Deo, acting for the Teoh family, said the pathologist should have questioned the MACC officers to look into the possibility of homicide elements being involved in the death of the political aide to a Selangor Executive Councillor in July.

"I put it to you that because you (pathologist) did not question the MACC officers, you thus did not obtain the material facts that resulted in your rejecting the possibility that a homicide had occurred," Gobind Singh told Dr Khairul Azman Ibrahim.

To this, Khairul, the senior consultant of forensic medicine, Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, Klang, pointed out: "It's not my duty to interrogate the police."

The proceedings became more intense when the 10th witness was questioned by Gobind Singh repeatedly whether he (Dr Khairul) actually could interrogate the MACC officers, and the pathologist replied: "I'm sorry (coroner), he's playing with words."

Malaysiakini
18/08/09