Selangor weighs Pornthip appeal if video-link disallowed

SHAH ALAM, June 11 — (The Malaysian Insider)  Selangor is considering sending a delegation to Bangkok to get Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand to reconsider her decision not to testify at the Teoh Beng Hock inquest in person, should the Coroner’s Court reject their application to allow her testimony via video conferencing.

“We may send our lawyers and members of Teoh’s family to appeal to her directly,” Selangor executive councillor Ronnie Liu told The Malaysian Insider.

The renowned Thai pathologist, who was hired by the state as an expert witness, had earlier testified that Teoh’s death was “80 per cent homicide”, based on pictures of the scene and injuries on his body.

However, she later declined to return to Malaysia to give further evidence, citing “political pressure”, but relented to testifying and being cross-examined via video conferencing.
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“She is an important witness and we believe her testimony is crucial,” said Liu.

Teoh, the 30-year-old political aide to state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead at Plaza Masalam here on July 16 last year.

He had been hauled up for questioning by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) at their Selangor headquarters on the 14th floor of the building the day before.

He was questioned overnight over graft allegations but the MACC maintains Teoh had already been released from their custody before he was found dead.

The police later concluded that he had committed suicide.

However, the inquest was called to investigate if there was any foul play surrounding his death following widespread disbelief and anger over the “official findings”.

The coroner in the inquest was scheduled to hear an application by the state to allow Dr Pornthip to testify via video conferencing today.

However, lawyer Gobind Singh Deo today said the case has been rescheduled to June 15.

Should the coroner rule in their favour, the state has made arrangements for the video conferencing to be held here at i-City in Section 7.