Friday November 6, 2009
Pornthip aware of limitations
BANGKOK: Thailand’s forensic expert Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand said she will attend the second post-mortem on the late Teoh Beng Hock despite being barred from carrying out the autopsy herself.
Dr Pornthip said she was informed by the deceased’s family lawyer and an official from the Selangor state government about Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas’ decision to have Teoh’s remains exhumed for a second post-mortem.
“I was told the post-mortem is likely to take place next Saturday, but I can only observe because of the legal implications,” she said yesterday.
She added that she was aware of the fact that she was not allowed under the law, to actively take part in the post-mortem, adding that she even raised the matter last July when the Selangor state government contacted her.
“I didn’t go at that time because the family did not allow me to carry out the post-mortem.
“But I was then invited to give testimony in the inquest,” said the director-general of Thailand Central Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice.
Under Malaysian law, only practising physicians registered with the Malaysian Medical Board are allowed to carry out post-mortem as stipulated under the Medical Act 1971.
Teoh, who was political aide to Selangor state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead on the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam on July 16, after being quizzed by the Selangor MACC on the 14th floor of the same building.
The family applied to exhume Teoh’s remains, following Dr Pornthip’s testimony that there was an 80% probability that his death was due to homicide.
Asked if she could come to a conclusion despite not being able to carry out the post-mortem herself, Dr Pornthip said it all depended on the degree of decomposition.
“As for me, I am just trying to help. I know my limitations,” she said. — Bernama
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