The Teoh Beng Hock inquest was today adjourned to Thursday following the unavailability of the investigating officer to assist in the proceedings.

The officer Ahmad Nazri had met with an accident recently and is on medical leave until Sept 30. He is assisting the inquest by liaising with the witnesses.

teoh beng hock inquest 070809 azmil muntapha abbas.jpg Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas ( centre ) is expected to hear testimonies from Teoh's elder brother Meng Kee and friend Woo Chuan Sing when the inquest continues on Oct 1.

Lawyer Tan Hock Chuan, representing the attorney-general, also said that he would be calling two forensic psychiatrists to help determine Teoh's state of mind prior to his death.

He further said that he would not be calling any more witnesses from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) who were involved in questioning Teoh.

Earlier, a mobile phone text message sent to Teoh's family members asking them to be present for a mental examination led to a heated argument between lawyers and those assisting in the inquest.

The text message sent on Sept 25 had asked Teoh's fiancee Soh Cher Wei, the friend who was supposed to be the best man at their wedding Woo Chuan Sing, and Teoh's parents and two siblings to be present at the Mekar Unit, Psychiatric and Mental Health Department, Selayang Hospital, to see a doctor there on Sept 28.

Lawyers against mental examination

Counsel Gobind Singh Deo, representing Teoh's family, stated that the matter (seeing the psychiatrist) should not have arisen and the sender of the text message should have stated why the witnesses are being called for the interview.

He added that the visit to the psychiatrist could be one way of stating that Teoh had committed suicide.

NONE Gobind also questioned the sending of the text message because to him, every application should have been sent formally and according to the law.

"The scope of the examination should have been stated. I feel it is improper that any application to seek the presence of a witness to assist in the investigation should be sent merely through the SMS (text message).

"The application must be sent according to the law. We don't know who sent the SMS. This is not a small matter," he said.

Gobind also requested for the list of questions to ensure that the questioning is relevant to the matter.

He also urged the coroner to give directions regarding the scope of questions that could be asked. He said he was worried the interview sessions are being held to determine the witnesses' state of mind.

In addition, the counsel representing the Selangor government, Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, also objected to the meeting with the psychiatrist, saying that there was no necessity for it and it was not relevant to the case.

He said those assisting coroner Azmil in conducting the case should have stated beforehand what was needed to be asked.

He also said the status of the doctor who would be conducting the interview is not known.

It's to gauge Teoh's state of mind

azlan Lawyer Tan initially appeared upset with the arguments raised by Gobind and Malik because he had already pointed out that the text message was merely to interview the witnesses concerned on the background of the deceased and had nothing to do with the witnesses personally.

He said the interview is not confined to the family of the deceased but also involves other witnesses who had seen Teoh on the day of the incident.

"This is because Dr Prashant N Samberkar, pathologist from University Malaya Medical Centre had previously testified that a psychiatrist was more appropriate to comment on the deceased's state of mind," he added.

It was not stated during the proceedings who had sent the text message.

Coroner Azmil is expected to make a ruling on Friday if the family members and friends need to attend the psychiatrist sessions.

Teoh, the political secretary of state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was taken in for questioning by the MACC as a witness in its investigation into the alleged abuse of constituency funds by certain elected representatives in the state on July 15.

His body was found the next day on the fifth floor of the Plaza Masalam building. The MACC has its office on the 14th floor of the building.

[With additional reporting by Bernama]