The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Teoh Beng Hock's death will be writing to the Thai Embassy to get pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand to testify.

NONE Commission chairperson James Foong (left) said the commission has written to both Pornthip and Dr Peter Vanezis via telephone and e-mail, but has yet to get any response.

He said the commission's secretary Saripuddin Kasim had contacted Pornthip's secretary by phone.

"We will not let it end there... we will write to the Thai Embassy to ask Pornthip to testify," he said, noting a similar outcome in reaching Vanezis.

Pornthip and Vanezis are expert NONE pathologists who had been brought in to testify in the inquest held into the death of the DAP political aide.

Porrnthip ( right ) shocked the nation when she said Teoh had possibly been strangled, and did not die due to a fall from the 14th floor window of the Selangor Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission's office at Plaza Masalam, Shah Alam.

His body was found on July 16, 2009, on the Level 5 service corridor of the building. The coroner had delivered an open verdict, saying that death was neither due to homicide nor suicide.

Private investigator

Foong also announced that the commission would appoint a private investigator by tomorrow to help it sift through the evidence presented.

However, he kept the identity of the prospective private eye close to his chest.

To this, Chris Leong, acting for the Bar Council, informed the commission that the Bar had contacted the Hong Kong police to request their help as independent investigator.

On the data report extracted from Teoh's handphone, Foong said the RCI will get telecommunications firm DiGi to give them the full phone records, including the deleted calls and SMSes from the account.

A Chinese translator was brought in today to translate the text-messages found on Teoh's phone.

The panel is also in the midst of securing the services of a handwriting expert to go through the contentious final letter allegedly written by Teoh, which was tendered as evidence only nine months into the inquest.

On the MACC's request to have a psychiatrist sit in during the RCI proceedings, Foong said the panel will discuss the matter and announce its decision tomorrow morning.

Leong noted that, while the Bar is all for getting the assistance of a psychiatrist, the move had met strong objections during the inquest because the psychiatrist engaged had interviewed several witnesses before they had testified.

NONE Muhammad Shafie Abdullah, acting for the MACC, countered that it is right for the psychiatrist to sit in as the only way to establish the mental state of a deceased individual is by "examining the circumstances", which in this case would be through the witnesses.

Foong however cut the argument short and asked that the participating lawyers abide by the panel's decision when it is announced.

The RCI has so far heard 11 witnesses to date.

The proceedings will resume tomorrow morning, with investigating officer ASP Ahmad Nazri Zainal expected to be called in as the 12th witness.