Teoh's inquest: Monday (day 4) - update

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Coroner Azmil Mustapha Abas has postponed today's proceeding to Tuesday morning pending the swabbing and testing of stains found at the stairs in Plaza Masalam.

Lawyer Gobind Singh Deo had made the application at the start of the inquest at the Shah Alam Magistrate Court this morning to send chemist Dr Seah Lay Hong to conduct its evaluation as there were new findings - stains found at the emergency staircase between floor 14 and 15 of the building. The stains are believed to be blood.

He wanted Dr Seah, who testified last week, and two forensic experts to go to Plaza Masalam to conduct its evaluation.

The lawyers and experts will go to Plaza Masalam at 11.00am. The findings will be presented to the court tomorrow.

Earlier report:

Speculation is rife that lawyers from all sides, who had arrived earlier, were not at the Coroner's Court because they had gone into the coroner's room , that a postponement is being sought due to the discovery of new evidence following a site visit to MACC on Friday.

Last Friday, Coroner Azmil Muntapha visited Plaza Masalam where Teoh was found dead on July 16.

Police have been asked to conduct further investigations on several new areas and items found during the visit by parties involved in the inquest.

Gobind Singh Deo, who is leading the team that is holding a watching brief for Teoh's family, said several areas and items were identified as significant and which would assist in the inquest.

In last week's hearing, DNA scientist Dr Seah said it was possible that force was exerted on Teoh just before he died, suggesting that his death could be ''not accidental''.

She said it was a hypothesis that force was applied at the tear region of the belt worn by Teoh in order for the rupture to occur.

Dr Seah said it was ''one of the many possibilities'' that Teoh may have been held back by the belt for the tear to have occurred.

One of the unknown males was tagged as Male 1.

The DNA profiles of 157 individuals were compared with that of the two unknown males but none of them matched, she said.

So far nine witnesses have tesitified at the inquest.