A tearful Bangladeshi witness in the "false news" trial of Tenaganita director Irene Fernandez told the magistrate court this morning that he ate grass for two days during his detention in the Kemayan illegal immigrant camp five years ago.

"Due to starvation, I had to eat grass with my rice for four meals," said Moron Mozumder.

"I plucked the grass from the compound outside the block. I washed the grass and ate it. It was tasteless and it did not satisfy my hunger. I had to stop after I had diarrhoea," the 44-year-old said in reply to a question by defence counsel M. Puravalen.

Mozumder also told magistrate Juliana Mohamed that he suffered from scabies and his palms and genitals were severely infected with cysts and boils.

"Both my palms were bleeding and had pus. It also had bubbles which were sticky. Red fluid came out and it was very painful. It was burning and had a bad smell. I had to force myself to eat with my fingers," he recalled.

He added that his groin area was covered with pus and was always wet due to the oozing of a red liquid.

"It had a burning sensation when it came into contact with my clothes. I could not wear my underwear. There was friction with my skin when I walked. The pain was so severe.

"I had treatment after two months. First, I had to take a bath. They applied a white liquid medicine all over my body and I had to wait under the sun for two hours. My skin condition only improved 15 to 20 days later," he added.

Speaking through court interpreter M.A. Ferdous Bashar, Mozumder also testified that he saw the police guards beating up women inmates with a cane for two days.

"They were screaming and police said the word " Diam !" Police brought them in front of the fence and asked them to stay put, facing towards us. The police told the women to utter 'I love you all' for 15 to 20 minutes, before sending them back to the block," he said.

When asked by Puravalen whether he felt any vengeance against the policemen, Mozumder replied, "I feel (then and now) angry with the police. I hate the police."

Later, during cross-examination by deputy public prosecutor Ganesan, Mozumder said that he came to Malaysia illegally on two occasions in January 1994.

"I didn't come to Malaysia with valid papers. One of the agents approached me and told me that I will be given a lot of money per month as salary and within short time I will be rich. That's why I agreed to come to Malaysia," he said, adding that he was deported to Bangladesh on Feb 2, 1996.

He added that he later came to Malaysia again this time to testify in the trial.

"I came here this time through one organisation in Bangladesh, ASK, Aino Shalish Kendra. Tenaganita contacted them and then ASK sent me here."

The defence counsel, however, raised an objection when Ganesan asked Mozumder where he was staying at the moment.

Ganesan : Where are you staying at the moment?

Puravalen : We have previously brought to the attention of the court the fear of police officers harassing the witness in this proceeding. For that reason, I ask the court to exercise its discretion. I don't mind him answering the question if it is really critical to the posecution's case.

Ganesan : I just want to know his connection to Tenaganita.

Puravalen : For the benefit of my learned friend who was not here before, this witness was procured with through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Immigration Department and through the knowledge of the AG's chambers and through the High Commission in Bangladesh. In fact this request was made in open court after we had initial difficulties obtaining visa for this witness to testify in this court. All arrangements were made with the knowledge of the court and the previous DPP. Much obliged Puan.

Ganesan : For the record, I will not be harassing the witness.

Puravalen : Not you, the police.

Ganesan : I was just asking that where you were staying. No objection huh?

Puravalen : I am objecting.

Mozumder : I'm in KL.

Meanwhile, the trial was today adjourned to tomorrow. Mozumder is the second former detainee to testify in the trial, which ran into its 230th day today.

Fernandez is being charged with "maliciously publishing false news" after she released a memorandum about tortures and deaths in the illegal immigrants detention camps at a press conference in August 1995.

The women rights activist and KeADILan supreme council member faces three years in prison if convicted. She is currently out on bail.