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Categories
| Teoh inquest Pathologist: Signs show towards suicide |
| Politics & Government 2009 | |||
| Written by Chua Sue-Ann | |||
| Friday, 14 August 2009 10:30 | |||
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Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Klang's consultant pathologist Dr Khairul Azman Ibrahim said there were "signs (tanda-tanda) showing that the death was more towards suicide". Khairul noted there were no signs of struggle on Teoh's body and no bloodstains, broken or disarrayed objects found near Plaza Masalam's 14th floor window where he was believed to have fallen from. Criminal lawyer Tan Hock Chuan, who is assisting the coroner, had questioned Khairul on three theories surrounding Teoh's cause of death: Homicide, accident and suicide. Tan, a former deputy public prosecutor, tested the theories by asking Khairul's opinion based on the post mortem, toxicology and DNA reports as well as two site visits on July 16 and July 22. Tan: In your experience, what is the possible causes of death for a person falling from a high place? Khairul: Generally, there are many causes. The external injuries on the deceased could be caused by a fall, either accidentally or suicide, and other possibilities were the deceased had been thrown (off a high place) or was pushed. Tan: Is it likely that the death of the deceased Mr Teoh was caused by homicide? Khairul: In my opinion, I did not find solid evidence to state that it involved homicide. This was based on the deceased's injuries that strongly show no signs of struggle. This was also based on (my observation) that there were no signs of blood, broken or disarrayed objects on the 14th floor of the building. The DNA samples taken from staff at the 14th floor also show no strong evidence of (homicide) occurring... If there were struggles, I believe the pen found in Teoh's pocket would be dislodged. Tan: Is there any evidence that Teoh was suffocated? Khairul: There were no signs of suffocation or loss of consciousness. Tan: Is it likely that the deceased's death was caused by accident? Khairul: There is no strong evidence showing the deceased accidentally fell. This was based on the scene which is difficult for a conscious person to slip while standing by the window. The area was not slippery... If he fell accidentally, there is a big possibility the deceased would have landed differently. For example, landing on the head. Khairul also said the DNA sources of two unknown males found on Teoh's torn belt were likely contamination at the autopsy table in the Klang hospital. The pathologist said there were two other post mortems conducted there prior to Teoh's and that the autopsy table was only washed with water. Teoh, who was political secretary to Selangor state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead on the fifth floor corridor of Plaza Masalam on July 16 after overnight interrogation in an Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) probe. The state MACC is located on the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam in Section 8 here. The anti-graft body was questioning Teoh as a witness in its investigations into alleged misuse of state funds by several Pakatan Rakyat (PR) assemblymen. Khairul also told the inquest that there were no signs that Teoh had been dragged based on Teoh's bodily injuries and around MACC's 14th floor office. The pathologist said scratch marks on Teoh's right shoe were likely consistent to the scratches found on the nearby cement landing, near where his body was found. To recap, Khairul told the inquest on Tuesday that post mortem results found Teoh died from multiple injuries consistent with that sustained from a high fall. Khairul also said it was likely Teoh landed on his feet before falling forwards, as evident in the chest injuries and fractured ribs found on the body. The pathologist also said he found no obvious injuries that could be attributed to struggles, self defence or avoidance of attacks on Teoh's body. Khairul and University Malaya Medical Centre's Dr Prashant Naresh Samberkar, due to appear next Monday, had jointly performed an autopsy on Teoh's body on July 17.
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