HAH ALAM, Aug 18 — Lawyers for Teoh Beng Hock’s family questioned today the relevance of the new evidence the Attorney-General’s Chambers is trying to tender after Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand said that strict protocol is necessary in handling such evidence.
The Thai forensic pathologist testified earlier that her institute mandated strict protocol in handling evidence like documents, such as conducting fingerprint dusting and DNA testing immediately after discovery.
“We question the value of such evidence,” lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar told reporters after the proceedings today.
“DNA testing and fingerprint dusting should be done. But in this case (Teoh), it probably wasn’t done,” he added.
Teoh’s family had expressed outrage last week with the Attorney-General’s Chambers for trying to tender as evidence in the coroner’s court a note it said was penned by him before he was found dead under mysterious circumstances last year.
They said it was highly “suspicious” that Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail’s office would choose to bring up the evidence, speculated in the media to be a suicide note, as the inquiry into Teoh’s death winds down, and ten months after it was allegedly found.
They had expressed bewilderment as to why the AG had not immediately sought their help after the note was allegedly found among Teoh’s belongings two months after his death.
Gani has been put on the defensive after his office gave notice in the coroner’s chambers on Monday that they intended to introduce the note as evidence.
Gobind has a chat outside with the coroner.
However, Dr Pornthip ruled out suicide during her testimony today although she declined to repeat her previous assertion that it was 80 per cent a homicide.
She also maintained that the DAP political aide had suffered pre-fall injuries and that he was probably unconscious before he fell.
Teoh, who was the political secretary to the Selangor state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah of the DAP, was found dead on the fifth-floor podium of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam last July 16 after overnight interrogation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Teoh is suspected to have fallen from the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam, then state headquarters of the MACC.
Teoh’s other lawyer Gobind Singh Deo criticised the AG’s attempt of tendering new evidence at the final stages of the inquest an abuse of the judicial process.
“This is something which may affect the entire inquest,” said Gobind.
Gobind added that the legal team initially thought that the inquest could be wrapped up this month. The inquest was adjourned today to September 1.
The lawyer also said that they would now focus on getting various experts to work on the issue of the AG’s new evidence, although he refused to elaborate on their identity.
Besides the fact that Dr Pornthip had ruled out suicide, Malik pointed out that Teoh was possibly tortured before he died, citing the pathologist’s testimony that the large bruise on Teoh’s neck was caused by trauma or blunt force.
Dr Pornthip also testified that Teoh’s unconscious state prior his fall was possibly caused by five minutes of pressure on his neck which cut off the oxygen supply to his brain.
“It shows some form of assault before he fell. The evidence to me is overwhelming on pre-fall injuries,” said Malik.
Dr Peter Vanezis, the British forensic pathologist brought in by the MACC to observe Teoh’s second post mortem last year, had also said that Teoh could have suffered pre-fall injuries.
MI
18/08/10
The Thai forensic pathologist testified earlier that her institute mandated strict protocol in handling evidence like documents, such as conducting fingerprint dusting and DNA testing immediately after discovery.
“We question the value of such evidence,” lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar told reporters after the proceedings today.
“DNA testing and fingerprint dusting should be done. But in this case (Teoh), it probably wasn’t done,” he added.
Teoh’s family had expressed outrage last week with the Attorney-General’s Chambers for trying to tender as evidence in the coroner’s court a note it said was penned by him before he was found dead under mysterious circumstances last year.
They said it was highly “suspicious” that Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail’s office would choose to bring up the evidence, speculated in the media to be a suicide note, as the inquiry into Teoh’s death winds down, and ten months after it was allegedly found.
They had expressed bewilderment as to why the AG had not immediately sought their help after the note was allegedly found among Teoh’s belongings two months after his death.
Gani has been put on the defensive after his office gave notice in the coroner’s chambers on Monday that they intended to introduce the note as evidence.
Gobind has a chat outside with the coroner.
However, Dr Pornthip ruled out suicide during her testimony today although she declined to repeat her previous assertion that it was 80 per cent a homicide.
She also maintained that the DAP political aide had suffered pre-fall injuries and that he was probably unconscious before he fell.
Teoh, who was the political secretary to the Selangor state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah of the DAP, was found dead on the fifth-floor podium of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam last July 16 after overnight interrogation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Teoh is suspected to have fallen from the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam, then state headquarters of the MACC.
Teoh’s other lawyer Gobind Singh Deo criticised the AG’s attempt of tendering new evidence at the final stages of the inquest an abuse of the judicial process.
“This is something which may affect the entire inquest,” said Gobind.
Gobind added that the legal team initially thought that the inquest could be wrapped up this month. The inquest was adjourned today to September 1.
The lawyer also said that they would now focus on getting various experts to work on the issue of the AG’s new evidence, although he refused to elaborate on their identity.
Besides the fact that Dr Pornthip had ruled out suicide, Malik pointed out that Teoh was possibly tortured before he died, citing the pathologist’s testimony that the large bruise on Teoh’s neck was caused by trauma or blunt force.
Dr Pornthip also testified that Teoh’s unconscious state prior his fall was possibly caused by five minutes of pressure on his neck which cut off the oxygen supply to his brain.
“It shows some form of assault before he fell. The evidence to me is overwhelming on pre-fall injuries,” said Malik.
Dr Peter Vanezis, the British forensic pathologist brought in by the MACC to observe Teoh’s second post mortem last year, had also said that Teoh could have suffered pre-fall injuries.
MI
18/08/10
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