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I urged everyone to act responsibly. Joining the Opposition will cost you your career, family and even your life as Teoh Beng Hock has realised, though the realisation came too late for him.
Twist to inquest
New document startles Teoh Beng Hock’s family, counsel 2010/08/10
Rita Jong and G. Surach
[email protected]are |
SHAH ALAM: The Teoh Beng Hock inquest took a twist yesterday with the emergence of what has been deemed to be a crucial document held by the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
Due to this startling turn of events, the hearing, which was to have resumed yesterday, was postponed to Aug 18 to give time to all parties to obtain further instructions from their respective clients.
Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas postponed the hearing in chambers in the presence of the lawyer for Teoh’s family, Gobind Singh Deo, lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, who is representing the Selangor government, counsel assisting the government Tan Hock Chuan, deputy public prosecutors Mohamad Abazafree Abas and Datuk Abdul Razak Musa, who are representing the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Gobind told reporters that the document was not only crucial but detrimental to the case. However, he refused to disclose the nature of the document.
Teoh, 30, was political secretary to Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah. He was found dead on July 16 last year on the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam here after giving his statement to the MACC, on the 14th floor of the same building.
Gobind said he was “just infor med” of this “mystery document” and that it would be produced through investigating officer ASP Ahmad Nazri Zainal, who was expected to take the stand yesterday morning.
Before proceedings began at 10.40am, Gobind sought to meet Azmil and all parties involved in the inquest in chambers to discuss this “new development”.
After about 40 minutes in chambers, Gobind was seen packing his things and storming out of the courtroom.
He only agreed to meet reporters about an hour later.
He said that Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail had possession of the document since October last ye a r.
“This document should have been produced earlier in the inquest proceedings and not at the tail end of the inquest.
“Counsel Tan Hock Chuan has admitted that the document had been with the A-G since October.” Gobind said the A-G should step down for his conduct in withholding the document and called for a royal commission to hear the case.
“The public prosecutor has not once mentioned anything about this document. But now, oneweek before Thai forensic pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunan was supposed to testify, they spring this on us.” Gobind said this was an abuse of process and that the document could have changed the direction of the inquest.
“Let me remind the A-G that we would not bow down to any sort of pressure. If necessary, we will file an application to ask the A-G to explain his conduct.” He said a royal commission of inquiry would be timely to find out the tr uth.
He added that there might be more documents with the A-G which were being withheld.
When asked if any explanation was offered by the A-G’s Chambers as to why the document was not produced earlier, Gobind said none.
Meanwhile, Malik echoed Gobind’s sentiment.
“We thought we were supplied with documents which were comprehensive at the start of the inquest and had tailored our line of questioning of witnesses in the inquest.
“Why wasn’t this document made available to us earlier? “Are we now going to recall witnesses? Is this inquest going to take us to the truth?” asked Malik, adding that this now left them in a very difficult position and that he sympathised with Teoh’s family.
Malik said proceedings yesterday were adjourned to Aug 18 to allow counsel time to get directions from Teoh’s family.
Read more: Twist to inquest<br><small>New document startles Teoh Beng Hock’s family, counsel </small> http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/...family_counsel__small_/Article/#ixzz0wDaoYf6A
Twist to inquest
New document startles Teoh Beng Hock’s family, counsel 2010/08/10
Rita Jong and G. Surach
[email protected]are |
SHAH ALAM: The Teoh Beng Hock inquest took a twist yesterday with the emergence of what has been deemed to be a crucial document held by the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
Due to this startling turn of events, the hearing, which was to have resumed yesterday, was postponed to Aug 18 to give time to all parties to obtain further instructions from their respective clients.
Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas postponed the hearing in chambers in the presence of the lawyer for Teoh’s family, Gobind Singh Deo, lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, who is representing the Selangor government, counsel assisting the government Tan Hock Chuan, deputy public prosecutors Mohamad Abazafree Abas and Datuk Abdul Razak Musa, who are representing the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Gobind told reporters that the document was not only crucial but detrimental to the case. However, he refused to disclose the nature of the document.
Teoh, 30, was political secretary to Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah. He was found dead on July 16 last year on the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam here after giving his statement to the MACC, on the 14th floor of the same building.
Gobind said he was “just infor med” of this “mystery document” and that it would be produced through investigating officer ASP Ahmad Nazri Zainal, who was expected to take the stand yesterday morning.
Before proceedings began at 10.40am, Gobind sought to meet Azmil and all parties involved in the inquest in chambers to discuss this “new development”.
After about 40 minutes in chambers, Gobind was seen packing his things and storming out of the courtroom.
He only agreed to meet reporters about an hour later.
He said that Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail had possession of the document since October last ye a r.
“This document should have been produced earlier in the inquest proceedings and not at the tail end of the inquest.
“Counsel Tan Hock Chuan has admitted that the document had been with the A-G since October.” Gobind said the A-G should step down for his conduct in withholding the document and called for a royal commission to hear the case.
“The public prosecutor has not once mentioned anything about this document. But now, oneweek before Thai forensic pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunan was supposed to testify, they spring this on us.” Gobind said this was an abuse of process and that the document could have changed the direction of the inquest.
“Let me remind the A-G that we would not bow down to any sort of pressure. If necessary, we will file an application to ask the A-G to explain his conduct.” He said a royal commission of inquiry would be timely to find out the tr uth.
He added that there might be more documents with the A-G which were being withheld.
When asked if any explanation was offered by the A-G’s Chambers as to why the document was not produced earlier, Gobind said none.
Meanwhile, Malik echoed Gobind’s sentiment.
“We thought we were supplied with documents which were comprehensive at the start of the inquest and had tailored our line of questioning of witnesses in the inquest.
“Why wasn’t this document made available to us earlier? “Are we now going to recall witnesses? Is this inquest going to take us to the truth?” asked Malik, adding that this now left them in a very difficult position and that he sympathised with Teoh’s family.
Malik said proceedings yesterday were adjourned to Aug 18 to allow counsel time to get directions from Teoh’s family.
Read more: Twist to inquest<br><small>New document startles Teoh Beng Hock’s family, counsel </small> http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/...family_counsel__small_/Article/#ixzz0wDaoYf6A
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