The testimony from T Sivanesan ( below ), the man who claimed torture by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers, was delayed for three hours today following disagreements amongst the counsel about his appearance at the inquest into the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock.

NONE This prompted the MACC to apply to review the coroner's decision yesterday which ruled that the witness' police report, alleging torture by MACC officers, was relevant in the inquest proceedings.

The application was filed at 12.30pm at the High Court registrar here.

Yesterday, Gobind Singh Deo, representing Teoh's family, told the court that he would call a witness today to prove MACC officers' use of force during interrogation.

However, in the proceedings this morning, Sivanesan was only able to testify at 12.30pm following a prolonged altercation between MACC's lawyer Abdul Razak Musa, Gobind and Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, who is representing the Selangor government.

Abdul Razak had earlier asked the coroner to review his decision yesterday on grounds that it could prejudice police and MACC's investigations into the case.

Court cannot change its own decision

Gobind and Malik however objected to Abdul Razak's contention and stressed that the coroner's decision yesterday should be adhered to.

Gobind: What the counsel (Abdul Razak) is doing today is not only a waste of time but also amounts to contempt of the court. The coroner has decided that the report is relevant and he has also outlined the scope for all parties when questioning the witness. We should therefore respect and accept the court's decision.

Malik: All parties have stated their case at length yesterday and this had been decided. The court has no power to revisit the issue and change its own decision. This is ridiculous.

Abdul Razak: This is an abuse of the court process by attempting to bring in a document which is highly suspicious, and listening to the testimony of a witness whose statement has not been recorded by the police.

Abdul Razak also claimed that Gobind had deliberately exposed his witness to the public by allowing him to be in the court and not in the witness holding room prior to being called for his testimony today.

Gobind: What is he talking about? This is absolute rubbish and I am surprised to see that this court entertains this. What is wrong with my witness sitting in this court? I cannot produce the report, I cannot call my witness, what is this?"

Abdul Razak: Don't be over-confident. We shall come to a stage where I would ask the witness who prepared the police report.

Gobind, who was furious with the statement, rose and said, "How dare you say that I prepared the report? I want you to withdraw that. Abdul Razak, withdraw that now!"

At this point, the coroner intervened and calmed the situation.

Coroner agreed to let High Court decide

After a half-an-hour break, the coroner agreed to refer his decision to the High Court.

NONE Gobind ( right in yellow tie ) and Malik however objected to this and said that any application to review the decision should come from Abdul Razak.

"Abdul Razak has not shown to us what kind of prejudice he is he referring to if the witness' testimony be heard and the police report be tendered in this proceedings," Malik said.

The coroner later allowed Sivanesan to testify and accepted the police report in the proceedings.

"Whether the police report is relevant or not, I leave it to the MACC to take further action," Azmil Muntapha said.

Teoh, 30, was found dead on the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam on July 16 after giving statement to the Selangor MACC, which is located on the 14th floor of the same building.

- Bernama