TeohBengHock RCI , Lawyers: Can DPP's act independently? (Mkini)
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14 — Thai forensic pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand will not be called as a witness by the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) investigating Teoh Beng Hock’s death.
Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, who is representing Teoh’s family, said that Dr Pornthip was not on the witness list despite her findings of pre-fall injuries sustained by the dead DAP aide.
“If we are supposed to have an independent investigation... the first name (on the list) should be Dr Pornthip (picture),” said Gobind today.
Dr Pornthip, who had said that there was an 80 per cent chance that the political aide was murdered, was a key witness called by the Selangor state government during the coroner’s inquest that returned an open verdict in Teoh’s death that ruled out both suicide and homicide.
The RCI also accepted conducting officers from the Attorney-General’s Chambers despite claims of bias from Teoh’s family lawyers.
Gobind said the conducting officers, who are charged with presenting evidence at the inquiry, had a conflict of interest as the A-G’s Chambers was allegedly seeking a suicide finding in its application to revise the open verdict in the Teoh inquest.
“Until and when we have reason to doubt their impartiality, we will accept their assistance,” said RCI chairman Tan Sri James Foong at the inquiry which began today.
“We find comfort in the fact that all parties represented will not only provide the necessary check and balance, but assist us in bringing forth information and relevant evidence in achieving our terms of reference,” he added
Mkini
