The Star
by WANI MUTHIAH
by WANI MUTHIAH
KUALA LUMPUR: University Malaya Medical Centre pathologist Dr Prashant Naresh Samberkar told the Commission of Inquiry into Teoh Beng Hock’s death he believed the political aide’s decision to jump was made in a split second.
Given this, said Dr Prashant, the scratches on the underside of Teoh’s shoes depended on how long Teoh had allegedly been on the window sill. (Dr Prashant had opined that Teoh had squatted on the window ledge before plunging to his death)
He testified that it was unlikely that Teoh had sustained pre-fall injuries and reiterated that Teoh was not manually strangled as suggested by Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand.
Dr Prashant was quizzed by counsel representing the MACC Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah about Dr Pornthip’s opinion that Teoh’s neck injuries could be have been caused by blunt force or manual strangulation or a blow by a hard object.
Given this, said Dr Prashant, the scratches on the underside of Teoh’s shoes depended on how long Teoh had allegedly been on the window sill. (Dr Prashant had opined that Teoh had squatted on the window ledge before plunging to his death)
He testified that it was unlikely that Teoh had sustained pre-fall injuries and reiterated that Teoh was not manually strangled as suggested by Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand.
Dr Prashant was quizzed by counsel representing the MACC Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah about Dr Pornthip’s opinion that Teoh’s neck injuries could be have been caused by blunt force or manual strangulation or a blow by a hard object.
“I beg to differ as I still opine that the marks are post-mortem stains or decomposition,” he said.
Teoh, who was the political secretary to DAP’s Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah, was taken to the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office on the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam for questioning on July 15, 2009. He was found dead the next day.
Counsel for Bar Council Christopher Leong asked Dr Prashant whether the injuries found on Teoh’s chest could have been caused by being hit with a rod or a cane.
Dr Prashant said the abrasions were caused by a pen which had been in Teoh’s pocket at the time of his death.
However, he agreed that the type of injuries found on Teoh’s chest could be have been caused by a rod or stick.
Leong: Would you expect the pen to be crushed or cracked?
Dr Prashant: Yes, one would expect that. (The pen found in Teoh’s pocket was not damaged)
Sungai Buloh Hospital head of pathology Dr Shahidan Noor said he would consider most, if not all, the injuries sustained by Teoh were due to his fall from a height.
He also said that the first post-mortem conducted by Dr Khairul Azman and Dr Prashant was far superior to the second post-mortem as it was carried out soon after Teoh’s death.
“The second post-mortem’s findings must be taken with a pinch of salt,” he said.
Teoh, who was the political secretary to DAP’s Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah, was taken to the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office on the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam for questioning on July 15, 2009. He was found dead the next day.
Counsel for Bar Council Christopher Leong asked Dr Prashant whether the injuries found on Teoh’s chest could have been caused by being hit with a rod or a cane.
Dr Prashant said the abrasions were caused by a pen which had been in Teoh’s pocket at the time of his death.
However, he agreed that the type of injuries found on Teoh’s chest could be have been caused by a rod or stick.
Leong: Would you expect the pen to be crushed or cracked?
Dr Prashant: Yes, one would expect that. (The pen found in Teoh’s pocket was not damaged)
Sungai Buloh Hospital head of pathology Dr Shahidan Noor said he would consider most, if not all, the injuries sustained by Teoh were due to his fall from a height.
He also said that the first post-mortem conducted by Dr Khairul Azman and Dr Prashant was far superior to the second post-mortem as it was carried out soon after Teoh’s death.
“The second post-mortem’s findings must be taken with a pinch of salt,” he said.
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