Banting case: Defence bids to cite prosecution for contempt
Published: Aug 11, 2011 10:58 AM | Updated: Aug 11, 2011 11:01 AM
The defence in the High Court murder trial of cosmetics millionaire Sosilawati Lawiya and three others today submitted an application to cite the prosecution for contempt of court.
The defence in the High Court murder trial of cosmetics millionaire Sosilawati Lawiya and three others today submitted an application to cite the prosecution for contempt of court.
Lawyer Manjeet Singh Dhillon made the application against deputy public prosecutors Idham Abd Ghani and Saiful Edris Zainuddin following their case against key prosecution witness U Suresh for perjury, at the Sessions Court in Shah Alam yesterday.
Manjeet Singh, counsel for former lawyer N Pathmanaban, the first accused in the murder case, said the charge against Suresh should not have been made since the trial was still on and the presiding judge, Akhtar Tahir, had yet to make his decision on whether to impeach the witness.
The application was supported by lawyers Amer Hamzah Arshad, Gurbachan Singh and Ravi Nekoo, who represented the three other accused.
Amer Hamzah said the defence was “disturbed” with the charge made against Suresh and raised a question whether it was an attempt by the prosecution to warn the witness to do as he was told.
However, Saiful Edris said the prosecution had the right to do so as Suresh was their witness.
“Whether the judge has made his decision or not, it is not a requirement to charge Suresh. We want to prove that our own witness has given 22 contradictory statements in court,” he added.
Akhtar set Monday to hear submissions from both parties.
Yesterday, Suresh pleaded not guilty and claimed trial to a charge of giving false evidence during the proceedings of Public Prosecutor vs N Pathmanabhan, T Thilaiyalagan, R Matan and R Khatavarayan before Judge Akhtar Tahir, contradicting his statement to recording officer ASP Ong Seng Keong on Oct 26 2010 in Sungai Udang Prison, Malacca.
The offence was allegedly committed between 9.30am and 12 noon on July 25 and 27 in High Court 8 in Shah Alam.
Suresh is the 29th prosecution witness in the trial of Pathmanabhan, 42, Thilaiyagan, 20; Matan, 21, and Khatavarayan, 31, who are charged with murdering Sosilawati, 47; lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, 32; bank officer Noorhisham Mohamad, 38; and Sosilawati’s driver, Kamaruddin Shamsuddin, 44, at Lot 2001, Jalan Tanjong Layang, Tanjung Sepat, Banting, between 8.30pm and 9.45pm on Aug 30, 2010.
- Bernama
Lawyer Manjeet Singh Dhillon made the application against deputy public prosecutors Idham Abd Ghani and Saiful Edris Zainuddin following their case against key prosecution witness U Suresh for perjury, at the Sessions Court in Shah Alam yesterday.
Manjeet Singh, counsel for former lawyer N Pathmanaban, the first accused in the murder case, said the charge against Suresh should not have been made since the trial was still on and the presiding judge, Akhtar Tahir, had yet to make his decision on whether to impeach the witness.
The application was supported by lawyers Amer Hamzah Arshad, Gurbachan Singh and Ravi Nekoo, who represented the three other accused.
Amer Hamzah said the defence was “disturbed” with the charge made against Suresh and raised a question whether it was an attempt by the prosecution to warn the witness to do as he was told.
However, Saiful Edris said the prosecution had the right to do so as Suresh was their witness.
“Whether the judge has made his decision or not, it is not a requirement to charge Suresh. We want to prove that our own witness has given 22 contradictory statements in court,” he added.
Akhtar set Monday to hear submissions from both parties.
Yesterday, Suresh pleaded not guilty and claimed trial to a charge of giving false evidence during the proceedings of Public Prosecutor vs N Pathmanabhan, T Thilaiyalagan, R Matan and R Khatavarayan before Judge Akhtar Tahir, contradicting his statement to recording officer ASP Ong Seng Keong on Oct 26 2010 in Sungai Udang Prison, Malacca.
The offence was allegedly committed between 9.30am and 12 noon on July 25 and 27 in High Court 8 in Shah Alam.
Suresh is the 29th prosecution witness in the trial of Pathmanabhan, 42, Thilaiyagan, 20; Matan, 21, and Khatavarayan, 31, who are charged with murdering Sosilawati, 47; lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, 32; bank officer Noorhisham Mohamad, 38; and Sosilawati’s driver, Kamaruddin Shamsuddin, 44, at Lot 2001, Jalan Tanjong Layang, Tanjung Sepat, Banting, between 8.30pm and 9.45pm on Aug 30, 2010.
- Bernama
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