The third accused in the murder case of cosmetics millionaire Sosilawati Lawiya and three other individuals denied celebrating their murder on Merdeka eve two years ago.

“I put it to you that you were not celebrating Merdeka on the night of Aug 30, 2010, but were actually celebrating the murder of the four individuals,” deputy public prosecutor Idham Abd.Ghani Idham had suggested to R Matan in his cross-examination at the defence trial today, to which the accused disagreed.

Matan, 22, with former lawyer Pathmanabhan, 43, T Thilaiyalagan, 21, and R Kathavarayan, 32, are accused of murdering Sosilawati, 47, bank officer Noorhisham Mohamad, 38, lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, 32, and Sosilawati’s driver, Kamaruddin Shamsuddin, 44.

They allegedly committed the offence at a farm, Ladang Gadong, Lot 2001, Jalan Tanjong Layang, Tanjung Sepat in Banting, between 8.30pm and 9.45pm on Aug 30, 2010.

Earlier in his testimony, Matan said he, Thilaiyalagan, Kathavarayan, U Suresh and K Sarawanan (the latter two are prosecution witnesses), celebrated Merdeka Day at the farm by raising the Malaysian flag and Selangor flag on the night of Aug 30, 2010.

He had also told the court that he was not aware that Pathmanabhan was the owner of the farm until after the latter was arrested by police.

“You said you were not aware that Pathmanabhan was the owner of Ladang Gadong but you had seen him 10 to 15 times at the farm, yet you did not enquire from Kathavarayan?” asked Idham, to which the witness replied in the affirmative.

“You were not interested to know who Pathmanabhan was even though he had asked how you were while you were working at the farm?” asked Idham.

“Yes, not interested,” replied Matan.

“When you saw Ravi’s (Kathavarayan) sister and family at the farm, you could have asked Thilaiyalagan who they were but you did not ask who the individual (Patahmanabhan) was; I put it to you that you are lying to the court,” said Idham, to which Matan disagreed.

The trial continues tomorrow before Justice Akhtar Tahir.

- Bernama