A defence lawyer in the High Court murder trial of Sosilawati Lawiya and three others was dissatisfied with the repeated “don’t remember” answers given by a medical officer during cross- examination today.

Lawyer Manjeet Singh Dhillon, representing first accused N Pathmanabhan, was not satisfied when Dr Ahmad Hafizam Hasmi, 32, the 70th prosecution witness, kept answering “don’t remember” with regards to the search carried out at the alleged murder site of Ladang Gadong in Banting, last year.      

Questioned as to whether the police had briefed the medical team before the search and whether the witness had been present at the time, Dr Ahmad Hafizam answered “don’t remember”.  

Manjeet got the same response when he asked the witness if he knew of anyone who had found any object at all during the search.

Manjeet persisted: “You can remember when you went to Batu Pahat, Johor and Seremban on Sept 15 last year and the Sept 21 and 22 x-ray but when I ask about Sept 14 you ‘don’t remember’. Did someone tell you not to talk about Sept 14?”

And Dr Ahmad Hafizam replied, “No, I really don’t remember, I cannot recall what was found in Ladang Gadong. Many people found objects but I’m not sure what they were.”  

He was testifying on the 49th day of the trial of former lawyer Pathmanabhan and three farm workers T Thilaiyalagan, R Matan and R Khatavarayan who are charged with the murders of Sosilawati, 47, bank officer Noorhisham Mohamad, 38, lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, 32 and Sosilawati’s driver Kamaruddin Shamsuddin, 44.  

Pathmanabhan, 42; Thilaiyalagan, 20; Matan, 21; and Kathavarayan, 31 who allegedly committed the offences at Lot 2001, Jalan Tanjong Layang, Tanjung Sepat in Banting between 8.30 pm and 9.45 pm on Aug 30 last year, face the mandatory death sentence upon conviction under Section 302 of the Penal Code.   

When DPP Idham Abd Ghani took a turn at finding out why the witness kept responding he does not remember, Dr Ahmad Hafizam said, “In Batu Pahat and Seremban I was involved directly and that’s why I remember but at Ladang Gadong I really don’t remember.”  

Samples taken from Sosilawati’s mother

Earlier in the proceedings, the witness, who is attached to Kuala Lumpur Hospital forensics department, said on Sept 15 last year, he and a nurse were accompanied by the police to obtain blood samples from Yathmi Abdul Rahman, Sosilawati’s mother in Batu Pahat, Johor for a DNA test.     

Dr Ahmad Hafizam told the court they were also taken the same day to Seremban in Negri Sembilan to obtain blood samples from Ahmad Kamil’s parents, Abdul Karim Isa and Bibi Habibon.

The witness testified that on Sept 21 and 22 last year, the hospital’s forensics consultant Dr Nurliza Abdullah (63rd prosecution witness) had instructed him to get x-rays of the specimens believed to be human bone fragments related to the case, from the Radiology Department.   

He said 14 x-rays of the said specimens taken on both dates were handed to Dr Nurliza.

Dr Ahmad Hafizam also informed the court that on Sept 14 last year, Dr Nurliza had instructed him to assist in the search at Ladang Gadong and that he did not find any objects during that time.

The trial resumes on Nov 15 before Judge Akhtar Tahir.  

- Bernama