Teoh inquest Day 9: Teoh had no psychological problem - pathologist

SHAH ALAM, Aug 17 (Bernama) -- Political aide Teoh Beng Hock had no psychological problem that would have driven him to commit suicide, an inquest into his death was told on Monday.

Dr Khairul Azman Ibrahim, 51, senior medical consultant at the Forensics Department, Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital, said he concluded this from an interview he had with Teoh's family before a post-mortem was conducted on the victim's body.

"I asked the victim's family whether the deceased had any psychological, health or drinking problems and they said no," said Dr Khairul Azman.

The pathologist, who continued his testimony on the 10th day of the inquest, said he asked Teoh's family whether Teoh was in debt or depressed, a smoker or on drugs, to which they answered that he was a very open person and liked to talk things over.

Teoh, 30, who was political secretary to Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead on the fifth floor corridor of Plaza Masalam on July 16, after giving a statement in an investigation into alleged abuse of state government funds.

To a question by Gobind Singh Deo, who is holding a watching brief, Dr Khairul Azman said he also enquired into Teoh's background from his family to find out whether he had a suicidal tendency.

He found out from Teoh's brother that Teoh was supposed to register his marriage one day after he was found dead and also that Teoh's fiancee was two months pregnant from newspaper reports.

Gobind Singh: Did you confirm it? (pregnancy).

Dr Khairul Azman: No. I only knew about it from the newspapers.

Gobind Singh: So, from the facts that you had gathered, I put it to you that Teoh had no suicidal tendency, from the family background.

Dr Khairul Azman: Yes, I agree. From the family background, Teoh was a decisive person and maybe if he had committed a wrongdoing, he would be embarrassed. From my opinion there was no reason for the deceased to commit suicide.

Dr Khairul Azman said Teoh's brother told him that he had no knowledge that Teoh was being questioned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

When he asked whether Teoh could have fallen to his death or been murdered, Teoh's younger sister said that her brother could not have committed suicide, he added.

"The deceased's fiancee kept mum most of the time. From her reaction, she wanted to know why the victim had died. So I told her that I would help if I know of anything amiss from the post-mortem and I will not hesitate to tell them if it was a murder case," said Dr Khairul Azman.

He said that besides Teoh's family, he learnt about the background of the incident from investigating officer ASP Ahmad Nazri Zainal. -- BERNAMA