An operations manager of the Banting branch Hong Leong Bank told the High Court hearing the murder case of cosmetic millionaire Sosilawati Lawiya and three others today that she received instruction to freeze two accounts belonging to N Pathmanabhan, the first accused in the case, in September 2010.

Yvonne Tiong Guat Choo, 39, said she received a written instruction for her to freeze the personal account belonging to Pathmanabhan and the other, a company account belonging to Pathmanabhan’s legal firm.

Cross-examined by lawyer Manjeet Singh Dhillon, representing Pathmanabhan, the 98th prosecution witness, said she was not certain who gave the order.

Tiong continued with her testimony today, the 67th day of the trial involving Pathmanabhan and three farm workers, T Thilaiyalagan, R Matan and R Khatavarayan, who are charged with murdering 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, are charged with committing the offence at Lot 2001, Jalan Tanjong Layang, Tanjung Sepat in Banting between 8.30pm and 9.45pm on Aug 30, 2010.

They are charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code which carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.

Questioned by Manjeet Singh whether she or the bank had contacted the account holders since the accounts were frozen, Tiong said they did for the company account as the legal firm had another partner.

She said the last time she contacted the partner was last year, but could not ascertain the date.

Yesterday, Tiong told the court that Pathmanabhan had opened a personal account with the bank on June 25, 1999, and a company account, using the name Pathmanabhan Nalli & Partners, on April 22, 2000.

The hearing before Judge Akhtar Tahir continues on Feb 29.

- Bernama