The defence witness in the "false news" trial of Tenaganita director Irene Fernandez today told the court today that one of his Bangladeshi inmates in the Semenyih detention camp died after suffering in pain for more than two weeks.

"His whole body was swollen - his arms, legs, knees, face and stomach," said Zakir Hossain, 37, who was detained in Kajang's Semenyih camp for illegal immigrants six years ago.

He said he tried to get medical help from the police who ran the camp.

"When I told the police, the reply was, 'If the doctor comes, you can explain to him.' The policeman knew how sick he was because he had seen him. The sick inmate told police, 'I'm very sick, I can't move my hands and legs. Please call a doctor..."

Zakir told magistrate Juliana Mohamad that he asked the police to get a doctor about a week before the sick inmate passed away.

"He was in pain and he sometimes screamed, 'My whole body is painful, please help me.' I couldn't do much, but gave some consoling words that he would get well one day. I didn't think he would die because I thought the doctor would visit him," he added.

Zakir said that the sick inmate's condition got worse, and he was told of his death five to seven minutes after he passed away.

[ [Full report to follow]