Thursday, November 5, 2009

Teoh's remains can be exhumed, says coroner

By WANI MUTHIAH

SHAH ALAM: Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas has allowed an application made by deceased political aide Teoh Beng Hock’s brother Meng Kee to exhume his remains for a second post-mortem.

The details of the second post-mortem, including who will perform it and when, will be decided when the inquest into Teoh’s death resumes on Nov 9.

Although Azmil Muntapha gave his consent for renowned Thai forensic pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojansunand to be present at the proposed post-mortem, she will not be able to actively participate in it due to certain legal procedural issues.

This is because only a practising physician registered with the Malaysian medical board can do so. as stipulated under the Medical Act 1971.

Counsel holding a watching brief for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Datuk Abdul Razak Musa also pointed out that the Mahidol University, where Dr Pornthip acquired her medical degree, was not among the 250 universities recognised by the same Act.

“It is clear under the law that Dr Pornthip cannot conduct the post-mortem,” said Abdul Razak.


Abdul Razak, who however did not object to the second post-mortem, said the MACC would be sending its own pathologist to attend and audit the findings.

Meanwhile, counsel holding a watching brief for Teoh’s family Gobind Singh Deo said the application to exhume Teoh’s remains did not name Dr Pornthip because of the legal issues involved.

“But she should be given the liberty to be there,” said Gobind, adding that Dr Pornthip should attend the post-mortem since it was she who testified that Teoh’s death was probably 80% due to homicide.

Azmil Muntapha then gave his nod for Dr Pornthip to be present at the post-mortem and ordered University Malaya Medical Centre’s Dr Prashant Samberkar and Klang Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital forensic pathologist Dr Khairul Azman Ibrahim to also be present at the post-mortem.

Both pathologists had performed the first post-mortem on Teoh’s remains.

Lawyer appointed to represent the government Tan Hock Chuan also said he had no objections to a second post-mortem.

“The family is entitled to find out what may have happened,” said Tan.

It is believed that the post-mortem will be conducted on Nov 14 as Dr Pornthip is said to be attending a conference in Malaysia at that time.

Teoh, who was the political aide to Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was summoned for questioning by the MACC at its Selangor office on the 14thfloor of Plaza Masalam here on July 15 over the alleged irregular disbursement of state funds.

He was found dead on the building’s 5th floor service corridor the following day.

Dr Pornthip, who testified at the inquest last month, had said there were finger-like marks on Teoh’s neck which may indicate manual strangulation.

She had also added the injuries to his anal region appeared as if something had been shoved up into his anus.

Teoh’s younger sister Lee Lan, who was in court with Meng Kee on Wednesday, said the family will wait for Azmil Muntapha to fix the post-mortem date before making arrangements for pre-exhumation prayers.


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无法操刀解剖原因‧普緹资格不受承认

(雪兰莪‧沙亚南)泰国著名法医普緹的资格由於不符合大马的1971年医药法令所列出的条文,因此无法亲手操刀进行第二次的解剖工作。

雪州反贪污委员会代表律师拿督阿都拉萨虽然不反对开棺验尸,惟他在庭上挑起普緹的资格问题,直指她不能操刀进行解剖工作。

他表示,根据医药法令,普緹无法在大马进行解剖,因为她的资格不受大马法律的承认。

“根据上述法令,大马承认超过250所大学的医学资格,但普緹所唸的泰国玛希隆(Mahildo)大学,却不在名单之內。”

普緹未曾在大马供证

他说,虽然普緹拥有丰富的供证经验,但都是在泰国;她在这之前也不曾在大马供证。

他表示,刑事程序法典有关开棺验尸的355条文,不適合用在普緹的身上。

他指出,既然赵家代表律师同意各造能派出各自的法医在第二次的解剖工作中协助,反贪委会也会考虑这么做。

赵家代表律师哥宾星指出,根据现有的医药法令,要由普緹亲手操刀的確面对一些法律问题。

他解释,法令的34条文阐明,卫生总监有权力委任在14条文下註册的大马法医进行解剖。

他说,如果14条文不適用,则能够使用12条文(拥有法令所列明的250所大学的医学资格)或13条文(拥有特定经验,包括受僱於本地医院)。

他指出,显然的,普緹的资格都不符合这些条文。


他说,目前最重要的是第二次解剖工作在进行时,普緹能够在场,以便让她有机会提出疑点。

他认为,普緹应被给予机会从旁协助及准备验尸报告,过后再次出庭公佈报告。

第二次解剖地点
或在沙登医院


哥宾星说,由於与赵明福位在士毛月富贵山庄的墓地靠近,他们目前属意进行第二次解剖工作的地点为沙登医院。

他表示,这方面的详情还需待下週一復庭时再做商討。

“虽然我们只能委任政府法医进行第二次的解剖工作,但家人还是有优先权选择属意的政府法医,如果家人找不到適合的人选,那么政府將给予协助。”

他指出,申请开棺验尸必须符合程序,他们必须提出正式的申请,验尸庭在批准开棺验尸后,他们接下来要做的是与各造律师商討由谁操刀、地点及时间等详情。

普緹无法操刀
法律限制赵家失望


虽然验尸庭批准第二次的解剖工作在进行时,普緹能够从旁协助,但赵家仍是对普緹无法亲手操刀感到失望。

赵明福的妹妹赵丽兰受记者询问时指出,家人都希望普緹能够亲手操刀,但碍於法律限制,普緹无法这么做。

“我们对此感到失望,但我们还是希望在普緹的监督下,能够找出真相。”

询及在考虑到风俗的问题时,赵家是否有属意的开棺日期,赵明福的哥哥赵明基说,他们的確有属意的开棺日期。他们將会向代表律师提出建议。

另一方面,出庭瞭解案件进展的行动党怡保东区国会议员林吉祥指出,开棺验尸是国人引颈长盼的决定,以找出赵明福神秘死亡的真正原因。

他也说,普緹在提供协助后,他相信真相將水落石出。

陈福泉:总检察署底线
赵家不能指定普緹操刀

代表总检察署的律师陈福泉指出,虽然赵明福家属有权厘清赵明福在今年7月16日坠楼的真正原因,但总检察署的底线是,赵家不能指定要泰国法医普緹亲自为赵明福操刀解剖。

他说,总检察署不反对赵家所提出的开棺验尸申请,因为成立验尸庭的主要目的,是要鉴定赵明福的真正死因。

他重申,总检察署的立场向来很鲜明,若普緹没有亲自为赵明福进行解剖,她就无法针对赵明福的死作出关键性的结论。

“我认同家属决定让谁操刀的选择最为重要,所以我们不反对开棺验尸的申请。”

他强调,若赵家基於法律问题选择让其他法医操刀,並邀请普緹从旁协助,总检察署不会提出反对,同时,也不会反对反贪委会委派自己的法医参与验尸工作。

他认同曾为赵明福进行解剖的两名大马法医凯鲁和巴拉斯汉,也必须出席第二次验尸工作。

雪政府律师:3大理由要求验尸

雪州政府代表律师马力英迪亚认为,为了厘清普緹和两名大马政府医院法医在解剖报告中所出现的矛盾,验尸庭应批准让赵家开棺验尸。

他週三(11月4日)在庭上基於3大理由要求验尸庭批准申请,即:
1)案件涉及公眾利益和一条人命,不过,普緹与大马法医的报告却互相抵触;
2)普緹在供证期间曾指出,即使赵明福在安葬6个月后,她也可以为他进行第二次解剖;
3)赵明福家属同意开棺,让赵明福进行第二次解剖。

他强调,赵家愿意开棺验尸是雪州政府支持这项申请的最大原因和动力。

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Sunday, October 25, 2009

赵家申请开棺验尸‧要求泰法医普緹进行

(马六甲)赵明福家属週日(10月25日)正式委託律师哥宾星向验尸庭申请开棺验尸的庭令,同时要求由泰国著名法医普緹进行验尸工作。家属希望有关申请能在验尸庭於11月9日续审时完成。

苏淑慧也同意验尸

赵家、苏家及明福的妻子苏淑慧都同意开棺验尸。

赵家週日在哥宾星及行动党国会领袖林吉祥的陪同下,在马六甲亚罗牙也住家召开新闻发佈会,作出申请开棺验尸的宣佈。

哥宾星指出,普緹於上週在验尸庭內,透过第一次验尸报告的照片所作出的惊人发现,指出明福有颈部被勒的跡象,臀部也有令人怀疑的伤痕,因此,在与家属商量后,一致决定开棺验尸。

他说,副检察司陈福泉指出,普緹因为没有参与第一次的验尸工作,她的供证不能被验尸庭接受。

“虽然如此,普緹有数次类似的经验,包括尸体已被火化,但还是根据所有的证据找出真相,因此我们相信普緹能够为明福的死因找出真相。”


哥宾星10月26日入稟法庭

他表示,將援引刑事调查法典第335条文,申请开棺验尸庭令,预计週一(10月26日)(週一)入稟法庭,週三或四过堂,再由法庭择日聆听。

他指出,申请开棺验尸应该由反贪委员会或总检察署处理,但是,至今没有看到当局的任何行动,总检察长反而还將此决定交由家属处理。

“总检察署是负责找出明福坠楼真相的机构,他们本应更加关注开棺验尸。”

林吉祥:真相必须大白

此外,林吉祥指出,普緹的供证指明福有80%是他杀,进而引起社会公眾的关注,真相必须大白,涉案者必须受到对付。

他认为,家属决定开棺验尸是正確的。

赵丽兰:加强泰法医论点
家人一致决定开棺验尸


“我们全家人详细討论后,一致决定开棺验尸。我们决心要找出真相,相信泰国法医菩緹会为哥哥討回公道。”

赵明福的妹妹赵丽兰週日在哥宾星及林吉祥的陪同下,在亚罗牙也住家召开新闻发佈会时,如是表示。

她说,赵家相信普緹在验尸庭上所说的是真相,一致决定开棺验尸,是为了加强普緹的论点。

“我们相信普緹的专业,因为就如她本身所说的,为死者说话,是她的职责。”

唯一办法让真相大白

她强调,如果可以,家属也不愿意开棺验尸,但目前只剩下这个办法才能让真相大白。

询及家属为何当初拒绝第二次验尸,她指出,因为当时一切发生得太仓促,家人无法做出决定。

讲述哥哥遭遇哽咽

话到如此,赵丽兰已哽咽,眼睛泛红,讲起哥哥的遭遇,她忍不住流泪。

明福的母亲张秀花也哭红著眼睛表示,上庭所看到的相片,让她对明福感到痛心。

“他们为甚么要用这样残忍的手段?

那些人不是人。”

明福父亲赵亮辉指出,希望这次开棺能够为儿子查出真相,为孩子討回公道。

Read more!

Teoh's family to request for exhumation and second autopsy

By ALLISON LAI

MALACCA: Teoh Beng Hock’s family will request for his body to be exhumed, enabling a second autopsy to be carried out by Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand.

Gobind Singh Deo, lawyer for Teoh’s family said an application for the exhumation and second autopsy would most likely be filed in court on Monday.

“The family is very concerned,” he told a press conference at Teoh’s family home in Alor Gajah on Sunday.

“They want to find out exactly what happened to Teoh.”

Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand, had last week, told the inquest into the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock that there was an 80% probability his death was a homicide.

She said it was only a 20% probability that Teoh had committed suicide.

Dr Pornthip also testified that the marks on Teoh's neck looked like he had been manually strangled.


The Selangor government had invited Dr Pornthip, the director-general of Thailand's Ministry of Justices Central Institute of Forensic Science, to give her expert opinion.

Lee Lan, 29, Teoh's younger sister and the family spokesperson said on Sunday that they had agreed to the exhumation following discussions with their legal counsel.

She said the family would also carry out a traditional Chinese ritual as a sign of respect and to appease Teoh’s soul before the body is exhumed.

She said the family was initially uneasy about exhuming her brother’s body.

“Actually, if it is possible, we don’t wish to do this but in this case, we are determined to find out the truth,” she said, adding that the family decided to give the go ahead to their lawyer Gobind Singh Deo to file the necessary court papers.

Besides the legal aspects, she said her family had also discussed the need to carry out the pre-exhumation rituals according to Chinese customs and beliefs.

“We (the family) will attend the exhumation as we have to take part in the ritual ceremony prior to it,” she said.

According to traditional Chinese beliefs, the soul of a departed is said to come back, sometimes, and visit the family either through dreams or as an apparition.

Teoh’s family claimed that he had appeared to several relatives in their dreams on the day after rituals to mark the 7th and 49th day of his death.

Read more!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

肛门伤势像被物体插入‧泰法医:赵明福80%遭他杀

(雪兰莪‧沙亚南)泰国著名法医普緹提呈给验尸庭的报告揭露,赵明福在坠楼前已经受伤。

她说,她同意两名政府医院的法医,即巴拉斯汉与凯鲁阿兹曼指赵明福身上的一些伤势与从高楼坠下的伤势不吻合;换句话说,赵明福在坠楼身亡前已受伤。

普緹在一封誌期2009年9月29日的公函中指出,大马法医在7月16日傍晚6时40分抵达案发现场,並发现赵明福的尸体在晚上7时15分已开始僵硬。

“由此推断,赵明福的死亡时间应是在8至12小时前,即7月16日早上6时至8时期间。”

遭他杀的可能性达80%

因此,泰国法医普緹指出,由於能够在赵明福身上找到坠楼前就已出现的伤势,她因此断定赵明福有80%的可能性是遭到他杀,而自杀的机率只有20%。

普緹的推论也与本地两名法医凯鲁阿兹曼及巴拉斯汉的假设大相俓庭,同样作为证人的凯鲁阿兹曼及巴拉斯汉皆认为,赵明福极有可能是死於自杀。


普緹是“赵明福验尸案”第30名证人,她今日(週三,10月21日)在雪州政府代表律师马力英迪亚的引导下供证说,上述两名法医指赵明福是坠楼死,她也赞同这个说法。

不过,她认为,虽然是坠楼死,但赵明福在坠楼前就已受伤,因此他极有可能是遭到他杀。

普緹表示,赵明福肛门处的伤势不像是坠楼所致,而是遭到像是木棒的物体插入,在她过去的经验中,她不曾看过坠楼个案会出现如此的伤势。

她指出,赵明福的大腿后侧也出现疑似遭人以木棒打伤的痕跡。

她表示,她也推断赵明福在坠楼时,可能已失去意识,因为她通过伤势照片观察到赵明福的颈部有被勒伤的痕跡、没有防护性伤痕及某些部位在坠楼前就已受伤。

她指出,赵明福在坠地时仍活著,但由於失去意识,导致他脚部著地后,身体就直接向下倾倒重创胸部,这也是赵明福肋骨严重骨折的原因。

对於赵明福的死因,普緹有以下结论:

  • 赵明福左鞋鞋底磨损的痕跡可能是因拖曳而造成;

  • 赵明福肛门的伤势与从高楼坠下的伤势不吻合,其肛门的伤势更像被物体插入;

  • 虽然大马法医认为赵明福在坠楼时脚先著地,但她认为赵明福出现骨折的足踝有被挫伤的痕跡;

  • 由於图片无法有完美的分辨率,她不能排除赵明福颈部有被勒伤的痕跡。




Read more!

Teoh inquest: 80pc chance of homicide, says Thai expert

SHAH ALAM: There is an 80% chance that the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock was caused by homicide, the coroner’s court was told Wednesday.

Based on her examination of the autopsy reports and pictures of the site, Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand said she believed there is only a 20% chance that Teoh had committed suicide.

Testifying at the inquest into Teoh’s death, Dr Pornthip said that not all injuries on the body were consistent with a fall from a height.

She said that marks around his neck could mean that he was strangled, while the injury to his anus was caused by penetration with an object before his fall.

His skull fracture was not typical of an injury from a fall but was more compatible with blunt force being applied directly to the skull, she said.

She said that Teoh was probably alive when he hit the ground but may have been unconscious before the fall.


Dr Pornthip told court she has conducted more than 10,000 autopsies, of which about 100 dealt with fatal falls from a high place.

She put the time of death at between 6am and 8am, July 16.

The renowned and flamboyant Dr Pornthip is the director and co-founder of the Thai Justice Ministry’s Central Institute of Forensic Science.

She is well-known for her prowess in cracking open complicated homicide cases and is a celebrity of sorts in her homeland.

She is the author of Investigation of Corpses which sold 100,000 copies in Thailand, and also led a group of international forensic scientists in 2004 to identify the remains of the Asian tsunami victims.

Her life and work was narrated in a National Geographic documentary entitled Crime Scene Bangkok in 2004.

Read more!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Evaluation put off because hospital refused witness

KUALA LUMPUR: The scheduled psychiatric evaluation of Teoh Beng Hock’s family was postponed because the hospital refused to allow a witness to accompany them during the interviews.

Lawyer and Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, who represented the Teohs said the family wanted to know why they were refused a witness during the evaluation at the Selayang hospital yesterday.

He added that Teoh’s family lawyer at the on-going inquest, Gobind Singh Deo, had informed the family that the coroner had imposed two conditions before the interview; each interviewee can be accompanied by a family member or a lawyer.

“We were told that the interviewees had to be isolated and only the doctors were allowed,” Lim told reporters after leaving the hospital complex.

The family had requested for a copy of the interview transcript. However, their request was denied by the hospital along with their request for a copy of the audio recordings of the interview.

“We are asking all this to ensure transparency during the meeting with the three doctors,” he added.

Teoh’s sister, Lee Lan, was disappointed with the outcome of the sheduled evaluation, which involved Teoh’s wife, Soh Cher Wei, father Teoh Leng Hwee, mother Teng Shuw Hor and brother Meng Kee.

“The hospital and the court did not give us a clear idea as to how this should be done. We travelled all the way from Alor Gajah only to find out that it will end this way,” Lee Lan said.

Read more!

Monday, October 19, 2009

齐聚亚罗牙也老家‧赵家为明福“除灵合炉”

(马六甲)赵明福家人週日(10月18日)早上在法师诵经带领下,为设在老家的明福灵位进行“除灵”及与祖先牌位“合炉”仪式。

隨著週日仪式完成,赵家希望验尸庭早日让案情真相大白,还明福一个公道,以慰其在天之灵。在这之前,家属在10月10日於士毛月富贵山庄,为明福进行圆坟仪式。

明福双亲赵亮辉和张秀花、哥哥铭基、大姐丽君及妹妹丽兰、妻子苏淑慧及亲人週日早上齐聚亚罗牙也老家,参与上述仪式。

赵家人感谢媒体这些日子来的报导,让公眾人士有机会瞭解赵明福事件。“同时,我们很感谢社会人士给予的关怀和支持,以一份温情鼓励我们继续生活下去。”

热心人印製200黑色手环

赵铭基表示,10月初,一名陈姓男子印製200个黑色手环寄到赵家,手环上写著“Justice For Beng Hock”字样,並鼓励大家戴上手上,直到明福事件水落石出为止。

“陈先生还说,若有需要他会义不容辞印製更多手环;对於陈先生的热心,我们真的很感激。”

他已把大部份手环交给行动党,派送给公眾。

此外,赵家仍继续收到各地热心人士寄送的关怀明信片。

Read more!

Sunday, October 18, 2009

责反贪局有心大作文章‧明福妻力挺女屋友

(马六甲)赵明福妻子苏淑慧今日(週日,10月18日)力挺明福屋友刘瑞蓉,强调两人之间关係清白,並指反贪污委员会以假设性角度来设定他们有曖昧关係,不仅破坏刘瑞蓉的名誉,对再也无法开口反驳的明福有欠公平。

“刘瑞蓉曾是我们在加影的屋友,过后她搬去与姐妹同住,明福则租用她们楼下的小房间。”

刘瑞蓉为明福学姐

苏淑慧週日到明福老家参与明福除灵与合炉仪式时,针对上述事件向记者发表谈话。

苏淑慧表示,刘瑞蓉是明福在国大的学姐,本与她及明福同租一屋,自从刘瑞蓉的姐妹在蒲种购买屋子后,她就搬去与姐妹同住。

她说,后来因为明福每日必须到沙亚南上班,萌起搬迁的念头,刘瑞蓉腾出楼下小房间出租给他。

苏淑慧表示,刘瑞蓉乐意租房间给明福,本是一件清白及公开之事,不应被当局拿来大作文章。

“明福的室友尚包括刘瑞蓉的两个姊妹,为何当局避开这点不谈?如有证据就应该拿出来,不应乱扯。”

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Saturday, October 17, 2009

反贪委会律师质疑明福‧与女屋友“关係密切”

(雪兰莪‧沙亚南)雪州行政议员欧阳捍华政治秘书赵明福离奇坠楼身亡案週五(10月16日)续审,验尸官阿兹米尔决定不传召赵明福的女屋友出庭;不过,反贪委员会的代表律师阿都拉萨却质疑赵明福与女屋友有“密切关係”。

验尸庭原订於週五传召这名女屋友刘瑞蓉出庭,但阿兹米尔却基於刘瑞蓉所提供警方的口供书显示与赵明福的死並没有直接关联,因而决定不传召刘氏为证人。

不过,阿都拉萨却提出,他不排除赵明福或与刘瑞蓉有“密切关係”,並认为后者的供词將可协助验尸庭判断赵明福的精神状况。

哥宾星斥拉萨假设“越界”

阿都拉萨说,他关注的是赵明福与这名女子的关係,造成赵明福在毙命前可能已受到困扰。

“赵明福有一名单身哥哥住在沙亚南,而他(赵明福)也在沙亚南工作。为何他选择与一名女子(刘瑞蓉)同住,却不与哥哥同住?这是全国人都要知道的。”

当时,赵明福家属的代表律师哥宾星马上站起来反驳说,阿都拉萨指赵明福与刘瑞蓉有密切关係的假设已“越界”,並对刘氏不公平,因而要求他收回有关言论。

“我看只有拉萨想知道。如今是摩登世界的年代,人人可同住一屋檐下。”


阿兹米尔则进一步解释为何他不传召刘瑞蓉出庭。

“她(刘瑞蓉)只是赵明福的朋友,他们在国民大学唸书时认识的,她只出租一间房间给赵明福。”

將传召精神科医生供证

阿兹米尔补充,验尸庭稍后將传召一名曾与赵明福家属及数名反贪委会面谈的精神科医生出庭供证,以分析赵明福的精神状况。

要求翻阅选区拨款文件
官员否认向明福施压

负责审查欧阳捍华4份拨款文件的反贪委会官员阿尔曼助理警监在验尸庭上供证时强调,他盘问赵明福时,不曾对后者施压和使用暴力。

布城反贪会总部情报科官员阿兹曼是验尸庭第28证人,他告诉验尸庭,他曾在7月15日晚上10时30分於反贪委会办公室要求赵明福翻阅选区拨款的文件,但他没有暴力对待赵明福和向他施压。

“我只是问他从其手提电脑影印出来的4份报价表,是否出现在欧阳捍华拨款的文件內,但他无法在文件中找出那些报价表。”

阿尔曼表示,赵明福用了1个半小时来翻阅选区拨款文件夹,但都没有找到发货单正本。

他说,当时赵明福不停翻阅相关文件近5分钟,其身躯没有倚在靠椅上,也不曾直视他的眼神。

此案展延至10月21日及22日续审;届时著名的泰国法医普緹將出庭供证釐清赵明福的死因。


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