A police officer was grilled on two photographs that had been tendered as evidence in an illegal assembly trial involving eight reformasi activists at the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court.

One of the photos allegedly depicts a few of the activists scuffling with a policeman during the gathering six years ago.

The prosecution yesterday called its last witness DSP K Manoharan - who was the investigating officer of the illegal assembly - to testify in the trial, which also involves Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Mohd Azmin Ali and Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor.

The eight were charged with participating in an illegal gathering over allegations that former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim had been poisoned with arsenic while in detention in 1999 and against the restrictions imposed on PAS organ Harakah.

Also in the dock are Zulkiflee SM Anwarulhaque (better known as Zunar), human rights activist Hishamuddin Mohd Rais, Abdul Ghani Haron, Tan Soi Kow, Anuar Zalik and Zaharuddin Ayob.

Magistrate Mohd Khairi Haron set June 7 for decision whether or not to call for their defence against the charge which carries a maximum penalty of RM10,000 fine or one year's jail or both.

He had earlier instructed both prosecution and defence to submit their written submissions by May 22.

In his testimony Manoharan, who is now Pahang deputy CID chief, spoke on the identification of four of the accused.

He said Zunar, Zaharuddin, Abdul Ghani and Anuar were identified in one of the two photographs published in local papers then.

Where and when?

One of the photos allegedly depicted reformasi activists, who were yet to be identified, scuffling with then Chief Inspector Mohd Zaidy Haron when he had confronted the demonstrators in Jalan Cheng Lock.

Manoharan also claimed that Zaidy had suffered bruises from kicks and punches to his head and body during the melee.

Following this, defence counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad and Hasnal Reszua Merican in their cross examination grilled Manoharan and questioned the veracity of his testimony.

Their contention was whether the scuffle shown in one of the pictures took place at the same time as the alleged gathering involving the persons charged.

"Other than chief inspector Zaidy, all the four personalities in one picture are not in the other picture (of the scuffle)," said Hasnal, to which Manoharan agreed.

To their questions, Manoharan admitted that the photographs did not show the date on which they were taken nor the name of the street in which the scuffle took place.

In fact, the photographs could have been on Jalan Kasturi, Jalan Sultan Mohamad, near Central Market, Klang Bus Station, or the many other streets near Jalan Cheng Lock, admitted Manoharan.

He also said he had no knowledge of whatever may have happened to the photographs before they were given to him by then Dang Wangi district police chief Mohd Bakri Zinin.

After admitting he did not know the exact location of the incident shown in the pictures, Manoharan said his testimony that it had taken place on Jalan Cheng Lock was based on the statement of the police officer who was involved in the scuffle.

Hasnal also pointed to the absence of Azmin and Ezam in the photo despite Zaidy's claim to the effect that he saw them moments before being assaulted.