Selangor seeks video testimony for Pornthip
By Syed Jaymal Zahiid, The Malaysian Insider
The Selangor government will try to get the Coroner’s court in the Teoh Beng Hock inquest to agree to a video conferencing proposal in a desperate bid to get forensic expert Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand to testify.
The Thai pathologist has pulled out from testifying when the death inquest resumes on April 20, citing “political pressure” from Putrajaya that could affect her work in southern Thailand.
An aide from the Selangor Mentri Besar’s office told The Malaysian Insider today that Pornthip’s withdrawal had caught them by surprise and forced them to meet and discuss ways to have the pathologist testify.
“So far, apart from convincing Pornthip to reconsider, video conferencing is the only option that has popped out,” said the senior aide.
“We will try and convince the judge to agree to this soon,” the aide added.
When contacted, lawyer for the Selangor government Malik Imtiaz Sarwar refused to comment, saying he had been instructed to refrain from speaking on the matter.
“Am taking instructions. No comment as yet,” Malik said through SMS.
The flashy Thai pathologist could not be contacted to verify the reasons for not continuing her testimony into Teoh’s mysterious death last July 16.
She had said in her earlier testimony in court here that Teoh’s death was “80 per cent homicide”, contradicting Malaysian pathologists who say the political aide could have fallen to his death or suicide.
Her testimony will be crucial to the inquest, and to prove allegations that there was foul play in Teoh’s death.
It is not known if the coroner, Azmil Muntapha Abbas, has been notified of her withdrawal.
