By Rita Jong
New Straits Times
Sunday, Nov 11, 2012
SHAH ALAM - The farm where cosmetics millionaire Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and three others were murdered was bought by lawyer Datuk N. Pathmanabhan to breed chicken and dogs.
Accused R. Kathavaran who was testifying in the Banting murder trial yesterday told the High Court here that Pathmanabhan asked him to work at the farm in Tanjong Sepat in 2009 to help him in the business.
"I knew Pathmanabhan in 2000 as we lived in the same area in Banting. But the first time I began working for him was at the end of 2008 when he asked me to supervise renovation works at his office," he said when questioned by his counsel Ravi Neeko.
"Eventually, I took in Thilai (T. Thilaiyalagan) and Matan (R. Matan)," to help me."
Kathavarayan, also known as Ravi, said he knew Thilaiyalagan through his uncle, while Matan was a distant relative.
Kathavarayan, 32, Pathmanabhan, 43, Thilaiyalagan, 21, and Matan, 22, were ordered to enter their defence on charges of murdering Sosilawati, 47, bank officer Noorhisham Mohamad, 38, lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, 32 and driver Kamaruddin Shamsuddin, 44.
They were alleged to have committed the offences at Ladang Gadong, Lot 2001, Jalan Tanjong Layang in Tanjong Sepat, Banting between 8.30pm and 9.45pm on Aug 30, 2010.
Yesterday, Kathavarayan said Pathmanabhan initially wanted to only breed chicken and dogs at the farm, but eventually began breeding other livestock as well.
"I agreed to work for him at the farm when he approached me in 2009.
"The first time I went to the farm, it was surrounded by oil palm trees and weeds," he said, adding there were about nine other farms in the area.
"I worked on the farm for one-and-a-half-years and put up fencing and built cages."
He said Matan and Thilaiyalagan eventually moved into the farm in September 2009. The three also built a guest house.
By early 2010, their livestock business took off. "I would then sell the chicken to the market and the puppies to pet shops. Some friends would also come to the farm to buy these animals."
Hearing before judge Datuk Akhtar Tahir continues on Dec 3.
New Straits Times
Sunday, Nov 11, 2012
SHAH ALAM - The farm where cosmetics millionaire Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and three others were murdered was bought by lawyer Datuk N. Pathmanabhan to breed chicken and dogs.
Accused R. Kathavaran who was testifying in the Banting murder trial yesterday told the High Court here that Pathmanabhan asked him to work at the farm in Tanjong Sepat in 2009 to help him in the business.
"I knew Pathmanabhan in 2000 as we lived in the same area in Banting. But the first time I began working for him was at the end of 2008 when he asked me to supervise renovation works at his office," he said when questioned by his counsel Ravi Neeko.
"Eventually, I took in Thilai (T. Thilaiyalagan) and Matan (R. Matan)," to help me."
Kathavarayan, also known as Ravi, said he knew Thilaiyalagan through his uncle, while Matan was a distant relative.
Kathavarayan, 32, Pathmanabhan, 43, Thilaiyalagan, 21, and Matan, 22, were ordered to enter their defence on charges of murdering Sosilawati, 47, bank officer Noorhisham Mohamad, 38, lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, 32 and driver Kamaruddin Shamsuddin, 44.
They were alleged to have committed the offences at Ladang Gadong, Lot 2001, Jalan Tanjong Layang in Tanjong Sepat, Banting between 8.30pm and 9.45pm on Aug 30, 2010.
Yesterday, Kathavarayan said Pathmanabhan initially wanted to only breed chicken and dogs at the farm, but eventually began breeding other livestock as well.
"I agreed to work for him at the farm when he approached me in 2009.
"The first time I went to the farm, it was surrounded by oil palm trees and weeds," he said, adding there were about nine other farms in the area.
"I worked on the farm for one-and-a-half-years and put up fencing and built cages."
He said Matan and Thilaiyalagan eventually moved into the farm in September 2009. The three also built a guest house.
By early 2010, their livestock business took off. "I would then sell the chicken to the market and the puppies to pet shops. Some friends would also come to the farm to buy these animals."
Hearing before judge Datuk Akhtar Tahir continues on Dec 3.
