DR PORNTHIP: Can sit in on second postmortem — APpic

The calls for having another foreign pathologist expert alongside Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand came after suggestions that Dr Pornthip’s findings can be biased as she is engaged by the Selangor Government.

“There is no reason for another foreign expert to be present if this idea is because certain parties think Dr Pornthip might be biased. All I can say is there is no logic behind this,” said Gobind.

He added that one must understand that Dr Pornthip’s earlier findings was based on documents from two local pathologists who conducted the first post-mortem.

In her testimony at the inquest two weeks ago Dr Pornthip said that Teoh could have been tortured. She had also testified that the marks on Teoh’s neck looked like he had been manually strangled.

Dr Pornthip said Teoh’s skull fracture was not typical of a transferred injury due to a fall but was more compatible with blunt force being directly inflicted to the head.

GOBIND: No logic behind presence of second pathologist

He also told Malay Mail that if she was allowed to conduct or supervise the second postmortem, she will explain her findings in court where people can question her.

“If people want to question her findings they can do so when she explains it in court. As I said earlier her findings will be backed up by photographic evidence,” added Gobind.

Teoh was found dead on the fifth floor of the Selangor headquarters of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in Shah Alam on July 16, a day after he was questioned overnight.

The president of the Malaysian Medical Association, Dr David Quek, said having another foreign pathologist expert was a good idea to give another opinion.

“The Federal government can also apply to have another expert of its own choice to perhaps to give his or her opinion, but this would depend on who can give a more persuasive and consistent appraisal of the reenactment,” said Dr Quek.

He also added that this would help to eliminate any accusation of biasness in Dr Pornthip’s eventual findings, and also to prevent more people coming in and requesting for a third or fourth autopsy on Teoh.

In his email, he also explained that there were few doctors and experts who would sell their services just for the money, because such opinions would usually be subject to close scrutiny and meticulous cross examination.

There will be a court hearing today on the application  to exhume Teoh’s body and whether to allow Dr Pornthip
to conduct the post-mortem on Teoh.

Earlier Malay Mail reported that Dr Pornthip might not be able to conduct the second post-mortem as according to Malaysia’s Criminal Procedure Code (CPC), the post-mortem examination of a body has to be undertaken by a government medical officer and Dr Pornthip from Thailand does not fall under this category.

However yesterday, the Malay Mail quoted Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican as saying that Dr Pornthip can sit in on the second post-mortem. Dr Ismail, who is also president of the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC), said: “Any expert invited to give an opinion is free to do so, though a lot depends on
the background and qualification of the expert.”

He also added that for a doctor to practise in Malaysia he or she must have a practising certificate from MMC, but for a doctor to give an opinion on certain issues, the practising certificate is not necessary.