UPDATED 7.56pm The main proceedings in the Teoh Beng Hock inquest resumed with lawyer M Manoharan taking the stand as the 33rd witness.

NONE Manoharan, also the Kota Alam Shah assemblyperson, had accompanied Teoh to the Selangor MACC office to provided him legal advice during his questioning but his presence was later denied.

In today's session, Manoharan was asked about the red marks observed on Teoh's neck during the second post-mortem.

He said there had been no injury whatsoever to Teoh's neck when the two of them had met prior to reporting to the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in Plaza Masalam, Shah Alam.

Manoharan said he was sitting next to Teoh, who was wearing a jacket but no tie, and that he could see the neck area clearly.

He reiterated that Teoh looked confident and cheerful, and denied the MACC claim that the latter was afraid because he had something to hide.

hindraf btn 151209 manoharan Manoharan (right) , who is also the Kota Alam Shah assemblyperson, in replying to questions from Teoh's family lawyer Gobind Singh Deo, said the incident took place at the Selangor state secretary building in exco Ean Yong Hian Wah's office on July 15, 2009.

“I was at the Jalan Duta Court when I received a call. I arrived at the Selangor state secretary office at about 5pm and on reaching there I saw the MACC team led by investigating officer Mohd Anuar Ismail, and we had a heated exchange.

“We disagreed on the need to call Teoh to the MACC office at this hour as it was already after office hours. But Anuar said there were provisions in the law for the MACC to interrogate the witness beyond office hours,” he said.

Lawyer's presence denied

The lawyer told Anuar that he wanted to be present with Teoh for the MACC questioning. The investigating officer agreed, but said he had to go in his own vehicle.

“After briefing Teoh and Ean in the latter's office over what to expect, the former political aide looked cheerful as he felt that there was nothing to hide. He also felt he did nothing wrong,” he said.

Upon reaching Plaza Massalam, Manoharan said he went to the MACC office on the 14th floor, but was denied access to be with Teoh. He said he waited for more than an hour and left at about 7.10pm after another lawyer took his place.

He said the MACC turned down his many requests to be present in the interrogation room with Teoh.

Later when questioned by lawyer Salim Bashir, representing Ean, Manoharan said he saw a computer being taken away by the MACC officers but did not see if any documents were seized.

MACC insisted Teoh was anxious

Cross-examined by MACC's head of prosecution Abdul Razak whether Teoh had looked anxious as a result of the MACC's presence, Manoharan said the late Teoh had looked cheerful.

Abdul Razak:

Are you aware that Teoh was very attached to his laptop which he held and did not want to release it to others?

Manoharan : I was not aware.

Abdul Razak : Are you aware that Teoh was not keen to go to the MACC?

Manoharan : He was willing to go but not at the stipulated time.

Abdul Razak : Do you know the investigation was into the alleged misappropriation of public funds by Ean to the DAP?

Manoharan : There is none, as DAP is a clean party.

(On Aug 26, 09 Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abbas ordered such evidence of misappropriation to be expunged from the records.)

Abdul Razak : Do you know Teoh's laptop has details over the said invoices of the alleged transaction?

Manoharan : I do not agree.

Abdul Razak : I put it to you that Teoh was feeling uneasy as he felt afraid that something might be exposed?

Manoharan : I do not agree, as Teoh look cheerful. Furthermore, I told him that I had been an Internal Security Act detainee and had faced much worse.

(Manoharan was one of the five ISA detainees for his alleged involvement in the Hindu Rights Action Force movement).

Abdul Razak : Are you aware there is no provision in law for lawyers to accompany witnesses or suspects in interrogations?

Manoharan : I believe this is not true as yesterday I was with a suspect while he was being interrogated by police. I think the witness or a suspect has every right to have their lawyer present.

Two witnesses to testify

The MACC will call two witnesses - contractor Lee Wei Lan and another contractor named only as Haron.

Abdul Razak is making the application as the two were also being investigated along with Teoh. Lee was at the premises the whole night while Haron left at about midnight.

"They were there being questioned at the MACC along with Teoh," said Abdul Razak.

“I do not know whether any of the two had met Teoh that same night, but I feel they should testify as they were present at the MACC premises,” said the MACC chief prosecutor.

NONE Outside court, Teoh's younger sister Lee Lan wanted the MACC to reveal the result of their investigations on her brother.

“It's been more than a year but we do not know the outcome. Instead, the MACC is making such allegations in this inquest like today,” she said in tears.

DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock ( left ) was found dead outside Plaza Masalam on July 16 last year, after the Selangor MACC had questioned him overnight as a witness in a case involving the disbursement of allocations by Seri Kembangan assemblyperson and Selangor exco Ean Yong Hian Wah.