Gobind: Duo ready to give DNA anytime

Puchong MP and lawyer, Gobind Singh Deo denied media reports that two witnesses refused to give DNA samples to the authorities, and thus caused a delay in the inquest into Teoh Beng Hock's death.

The inquest which began on Wednesay, was subsequently postponed to August 5.

Gobind said the two, Kajang councillor Tan Boon Hwa and one Lee Wye Wing (right), were willing to give their samples at anytime.

Tan, is a DAP member while Lee, supposedly a contractor, is a client of lawyer, Lim Lip Eng, who is also Segambut MP.

Both of them, along with Teoh had been called in by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) and were in the commision's building at the time of Teoh's untimely death.

Gobind said he was informed by the investigating officer late Tuesday afternoon that the two were required to give their DNA samples.

As the following day (Wednesday) was the inquest, Gobind said he told the two to make themselves available to the authorities there, as they were also called in as witnesses," said Gobind.

"The application to postpone the inquest was done because lawyers needed time study the reports and documentations which were not made available to us previously.

'We have no time to play games'

"It was wrong of the press to report that the postponement was due to Tan and Lee refusing to provide their DNAs."

Gobind reiterated that the DAP wanted justice for Teoh from the very first day, and had fought to have a Royal Commission of Inquiry or an inquest set up, to investigate his death.

"We went on a nationwide campaign asking for a Royal Commission long before the cabinet decision. So the question of us delaying investigations seems like a big joke to me".

"We have no time to play games. We are very serious about the inquest although we still prefer a full Royal Commission of Inquiry," he said.

Gobind also denied a blog post implicating the two (Tan and Lee) in Teoh's death and accusing him, his father Karpal Singh and Lim Kit Siang of playing a role in covering up the whole affair.

The issue of DNA came to light when the inquest was told yesterday that the outer side of the blazer worn by Teoh had a mixture of male DNA from an unknown individual.

"One was consistent with blood stain specimens of the deceased and one of an unknown male individual," said Tan Hock Chuan (above) the lawyer leading the prosecution team.

The inquest was also told that two people had refused to give their DNA samples to the police.

Awaiting statements of Teoh's interrogaters

Gobind, who is representing Teoh's family with his father Karpal said they have received some documents from the prosecution team, but there are more which they have yet to receive.

"These include Teoh's statement to the MACC, when he was interrogated that night. To us it is an important statement.

"I have also yet to get the statements from the person(s) who interrogated Teoh. These were the last people who had contact with Teoh," he said.

"I will write in to Tan to get these statements although he had indicated he will object to the application to get the MACC's officers statement," said Gobind.

Gobind also said that when he had asked Tan if there was a match from the DNA samples taken from about 100 witnesses, he replied that he would let the experts deal with that.

However, he said he will write to Tan to get the DNA report from the experts with regards to DNA matching.

Gobind also said that Teoh's family members had appealed to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak over extending the scope of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to include the cause of death.

"We suspect the death occurred consequent to or as a result of what may have happened during interrogation. We feel methods of interrogation could be connected to what eventually happened.

"There could be an overlap when the RCI looks into interrogation methods when its scope could be widended," he said.

"It would be odd if you look into the interrogation methods only, and then stop. They are all inter connected and this is the reason why we want one RCI rather than two inquiries. We need to go the extra mile to identify the cause of death."