The Star
by YUEN MEIKENG
by YUEN MEIKENG
KUALA LUMPUR: A witness in the Teoh Beng Hock Royal Commission of Inquiry broke down after he was ticked off by the commission chairman over his duties as a security guard.
Mohd Khairudin Denan, who was on duty at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) building the night before Teoh was found dead, told the inquiry yesterday that he did not make his rounds that night because “God did not move him to do so.”
This prompted commission chairman Federal Court judge Tan Sri James Foong Cheng Yuen to chide the 56-year-old.
“If God did not tell you to do it, you won’t do it. So if God told you not to make your rounds every day, there is no need for you to go to work then,” Foong told Mohd Khairudin, who then started sobbing.
Foong then called for a break to allow Mohd Khairudin to calm down. The commission also interviewed the witness in chambers.
Mohd Khairudin Denan, who was on duty at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) building the night before Teoh was found dead, told the inquiry yesterday that he did not make his rounds that night because “God did not move him to do so.”
This prompted commission chairman Federal Court judge Tan Sri James Foong Cheng Yuen to chide the 56-year-old.
“If God did not tell you to do it, you won’t do it. So if God told you not to make your rounds every day, there is no need for you to go to work then,” Foong told Mohd Khairudin, who then started sobbing.
Foong then called for a break to allow Mohd Khairudin to calm down. The commission also interviewed the witness in chambers.
When the inquiry resumed in open court, commissioner Prof Dr Mohamed Hatta Shaharom asked Mohd Khairudin if he had any responsibility to watch over visitors in the MACC building, to which the latter said no.
Dr Mohamed Hatta: So you had no responsibility over the unknown Chinese man (whom Mohd Khairudin saw at 1.30am during his watch)?
Mohd Khairudin: No. It is the MACC officer’s (responsibility).
Dr Mohamed Hatta: So when you went home after work, you did not leave out any duties?
Mohd Khairudin: No.
Mohd Khairudin also denied that he was “coached” into coming up with a list of questions and answers that he referred to when answering questions in the inquiry.
When Bar Council lawyer Cheow Wee pointed out that the questions in the list were specific in nature, Mohd Khairudin insisted that he came up with them on his own.
“You (Mohd Khairudin) said you made the list because you wanted to remember what to tell the inquiry. But if you were to tell the truth, you wouldn’t need to make notes. Am I right?” Cheow asked, but was met with silence.
To a question by MACC’s counsel Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Mohd Khairudin agreed that he had answered all questions honestly.
The inquiry continues today.
Dr Mohamed Hatta: So you had no responsibility over the unknown Chinese man (whom Mohd Khairudin saw at 1.30am during his watch)?
Mohd Khairudin: No. It is the MACC officer’s (responsibility).
Dr Mohamed Hatta: So when you went home after work, you did not leave out any duties?
Mohd Khairudin: No.
Mohd Khairudin also denied that he was “coached” into coming up with a list of questions and answers that he referred to when answering questions in the inquiry.
When Bar Council lawyer Cheow Wee pointed out that the questions in the list were specific in nature, Mohd Khairudin insisted that he came up with them on his own.
“You (Mohd Khairudin) said you made the list because you wanted to remember what to tell the inquiry. But if you were to tell the truth, you wouldn’t need to make notes. Am I right?” Cheow asked, but was met with silence.
To a question by MACC’s counsel Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Mohd Khairudin agreed that he had answered all questions honestly.
The inquiry continues today.
No comments:
Post a Comment