SHAH ALAM: The fourth accused in the murder trial of cosmetics millionaire Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and her three aides has denied making arrangements with the police in exchange for his release, the High Court here heard Friday.

Farm hand R. Kathavarayan, 32, made the denial when he was cross-examined by lawyer Manjeet Singh Dhillon, representing Kathavarayan's former employer N. Pathmanabhan.

Manjeet said after lunch time on Thursday, he and Kathavarayan - together with Kathavarayan's two police escorts - shared the same lift going up to the seventh floor where the trial was being held.

The accused agreed.

Manjeet: You asked me why I did not buy lunch for you and I told you no, I won't buy you lunch. Then you said, you will have a 'kenduri' in two months' time and will invite me. Be honest. Did you say that?

Kathavarayan: Yes.

Manjeet: Did I ask you, where is the feast, why, are you going out (of prison)?

Kathavarayan: Yes.

Manjeet: And you said to me that you will go out in two months' time.

Kathavarayan: I did not say that.

Manjeet: I put it to you, you did say that. This is all an arrangement for you as a police informer.

Kathavarayan: I disagree.

Manjeet further suggested that during Thursday's proceedings, Kathavarayan testified he was a police informer who helped the police arrest other people.

"I said I was merely helping the police, I am not an informer," replied Kathavarayan.

Manjeet then said, in jest, that helping the police would usually entail rewards. The accused denied getting any reward for helping.

Kathavarayan together with Pathmanabhan, 44, T. Thilaiyalagan, 22, and R. Matan, 23, are accused of murdering Sosilawati, 47, her driver Kamaruddin Shamsuddin, 44, bank officer Noorhisham Mohamad, 38, and lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, 32, at Lot 2001, Jalan Tanjung Layang, Tanjung Sepat, Banting, between 8.30pm and 9.45pm on Aug 30, 2010.

The hearing continues before Justice Akhtar Tahir on Monday.

Related Stories:
Banting murders: Accused denies murdering Sosilawati
Banting murders trial: Accused saw Sosilawati nine days after murder

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