By Debra Chong-The Malaysian Insider
PETALING JAYA, Feb 12 – A key witness in the sedition trial of controversial Malaysia Today blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin was accused of being a “compulsive liar” in court today.
The chief investigating officer, Superintendant Gan Tack Guan, who had made a police report against Raja Petra last year after reading the latter’s online article, “Let’s Send The Altantuya Murderers To Hell” which sparked the charge, returned to the witness stand this morning.
Gan was subjected to a barrage of questions by defence lawyer Gobind Singh Deo over his findings about the claims made by Raja Petra on the alleged role played by Abdul Razak Baginda in the sensational murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu.
Razak Baginda is a political analyst and said to be a close friend of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. He was charged with abetting two police officers with killing Altantuya. The Shah Alam High Court acquitted him of the crime last October.
Last Tuesday, Gobind had cross-examined Gan in an attempt to establish that the sedition charge against Raja Petra — popularly known by his initials RPK — was “politically motivated”.
Picking up from where he left off, Gobind continued to question the former along the same vein.
However, Gan appeared to have difficulty in answering to Gobind’s satisfaction, particularly when the latter pressed him on his investigation regarding a photograph said to feature Najib together with the murder victim at her birthday celebration in a hotel in Singapore.
“I put it to you, you are in no position to say Najib Tun Razak did not attend Altantuya’s birthday party at the Mandarin hotel in Singapore as alleged,” Gobind suggested.
“I disagree,” Gan replied.
“You agree with me it would have been easy for you to confirm this by merely asking Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak?” Gobind asked.
“I disagree,” said Gan.
“Why disagree? Is it difficult to ask Datuk Seri Najib questions?” Gobind pushed.
“This issue arose on the website on April 25 and the witness that gave the testimony did not show the picture on the issue,” Gan, who is the Interpol National Centre Bureau assistant director based in Bukit Aman, countered.
“But you never asked her for a copy of the photograph, Superintendant?” Gobind asked, referring to a Mongolian witness in the Altantutya murder trial, Burmaa Oyunchimeg who had supposedly produced the visual record.
“We did ask but she did not produce,” Gan answered.
“Did you personally ask her?” Gobind interrogated.
“I can’t remember because it was not brought up in the case,” Gan replied, before adding: “I think yes.”
Gan’s slow response and cumulative vague replies to Gobind’s blunt interrogation seemed to annoy the defence lawyer, leading to a minor outburst.
“Make up your mind. You remember or not asking her?” Gobind thundered.
“Yes,” said Gan.
“I put it you, you are lying that you asked the witness for the photograph. You are a compulsive liar,” Gobind asked pointedly.
“No,” Gan stated.
Gobind’s inquisition was halted for the day before he could obtain an answer to the significance of the controversial photograph said to feature Najib and Altantuya together.
He had sought permission from Sessions Court judge Justice Rozina Ayob to introduce several documents from the Altantuya murder case into Raja Petra’s sedition trial.
But the judge ordered him to validate the documents first and adjourned the trial to April 23 and 24.
Meanwhile, Raja Petra, who has been slapped with multiple lawsuits, will return to the dock at the Kuala Lumpur High Court tomorrow for his criminal defamation charge.
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