The Thai Ministry of Justice has expressed concerned that the involvement of forensic pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand in the second autopsy of an alleged police brutality victim may incur the displeasure of the Malaysian government.

NONE This is detailed in an internal report sighted by Malaysiakini , in which the ministry's concern about the matter relating to the death of security guard C Sugumar last month is expressed.

"In the case of Mr Sugumar’s death, which happened in Selangor - a state governed by the opposition - the Malaysian government may again worry that Dr Khunying Pornthip’s action, her interviews or any of her statements may be exploited by the opposition, which will impact negatively on the government at a time when the general election is approaching," the report states.

The report, which appears to be an official Ministry of Justice document, is in Thai.

In the report, the ministry based its conclusion on the pathologist’s previous involvement in another controversial second autopsy, that of a former DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock, who died around the time he was being questioned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on July 16, 2009.

NONE "Previously, the Malaysian government was not pleased by Dr Khunying Pornthip’s role (when she) was invited to conduct an autopsy of Teoh Beng Hock ( left ), an aide of a DAP politician who died in Selangor in 2009. It was seen (by the Malaysian government) as affecting the government’s image negatively," the document stated.

However, the internal report sighted - which appears to be based on a more complete document - does not mention any Malaysian government official contacting the Thai authorities over the matter, nor were there instructions detailing Pornthip not to participate in the procedure as alleged by PKR yesterday.

Though this may not be the document that was earlier quoted by the opposition party, the Thai document does not include any communiques between Pornthip and the ministry that may be related to the matter.

Pornthip is the director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science in Thailand, which reports to the Ministry of Justice.

As mentioned in the report, the forensic specialist earlier courted the displeasure of the Malaysian government when she appeared to testify before the RCI into Teoh's death.

Pornthip had cited "political pressure from the Malaysian govenment” as preventing her return for the Teoh RCI proceedings.

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