Subpoena On Key Witness Teo
By Rol Izam & Ignatius Stephen

Bandar Seri Begawan - Defence lawyers could be serving a subpoena on Mr Teo Hoon @ Teo Ah Hoon a key defence witness in the hearing of Brunei's worst killings in living memory due on his return to the country this week, as soon as he arrives.

The murder victims were Maual bin Jambu, 44, his 37-year-old school teacher wife and their adopted daughter Neena Asmira, aged two who was smothered with a pillow. Her parents were beaten to death.

This will end a long search for the 70-year-old ex customs officer whom no one could tell was where. His disappearance added another mystery to the already existing array of puzzling events starting from the baffling circumstances surrounding the triple deaths.

Mr Teo's evidence was important to the defence to establish an alibi as the accused Richard Chia Kok Hiong, 53, is claiming that he was with Mr Teo during the night of the triple murder. Richard, a car salesman and a neighbour is denying all charges.

When the High Court could not find Mr Teo, 70, a retired Customs official, to give evidence the defence lawyers, Cheok Sankaran Halim put out an advertisement in the Borneo Bulletin and there was also publicity in the press.

Mr Teo's daughter, Dr Teo Lee Na, who works at the RIPAS Hospital told the court that her father was away on holiday in an "Asean country" but he was cutting short his visit and coming back because of the case.

The shocking killing of a family of three during Christmas happened two years ago at Kampong Serusop near the capital. Prosecution is led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Haji Yusree and assisted by DPP Pengiran Nina Jasmine.

Awang Yusof Halim and Siva Sankaran are defending. Chief Justice Dato Mohd Saied and Dato Judge Steven Chong are hearing the case. The defence subpoenaed Dr Teo to give evidence when they could not serve summons on her father to appear as material witness.

Meanwhile, Dr Teo lodged a complaint to the High Court during the proceedings.

Unprovoked and surprisingly she asked the court: "Can I say something? I am concerned as I have been subpoenaed in this matter but the defence or the police had made no effort to contact me or my father whatsoever.

But there was evidence adduced in court that Defence Counsel Siva Sankaran had on an earlier occasion informed court that he had gone to RIPAS Hospital with his secretary and met with Dr Teo who asked them to wait.

After an hour's wait and upon enquiry lawyer Siva Sankaran was told that Dr Teo had left via a different exit.

Lawyer Siva also informed court that he had waited at Teo Ah Hoon's house in Jalan Muara and nobody opened the gate. There were also posers by the defence as to what happened to the border stop order which the police assured defence had been placed on Teo Ah Hoon?

Why did Dr Teo say that the police had made no effort to contact her father when the police said that they were not able to find out where he is?

How did she know that the police and defence had not made any effort to contact her father when she said in evidence that, she does not even know where her father is currently?

She had also answered to members of Richard's family through email about Teo Ah Hoon's whereabouts promising assistance. In cout the defence has also brought in Dr. Ong Beng Beng an Australian Specialist Pathologist to give evidence.

Dr Ong told the court: "I am asked to give my expert opinion regarding the time of deaths of the victims in the case of Richard Cl is Kok Hiong who I understand is facing charges of murdering Maual bin Jambu, Neena Asnira binte Maual and Seniwati binte Untong.

To summarise the initial relevant findings regarding the time of death, Dr. Telisinghe visited the scene of crime at around 2.00 pm on 17 December 2004. He made the following observations and interpretation with regards to time of death:

"Mauai bin Jambu

"The deceased was found in an open-air garage. The body showed signs of early putrefaction. Rigor mortis was complete (noted in post-mortem report).. The time of death was estimated to be between 15 December, 2 pm and 16 December, 2 am, i.e. 36 to 48 hours earlier.

"Seniwati binte Untong .

"The body was found in an air-conditioned environment. The deceased, when compared to Maul bin Jambu was in a lesser state of putrefaction. Rigor mortis present (noted in post-mortem report, typographical error noted). The time of death was estimated to be between 15 December, 2 pm and 16 December, 2 am, i.e. 36 to 48 hours earlier.

"Neena Asmira bte Maual

"The body was found in an air-conditioned room. There were no signs of putrefaction. In the post-mortem report, it was stated that rigor mortis was present. The time of death was estimated to be between 15 December, 2 pin to 16 December, 2 am, i.e. 36 to 48 hours earlier.

"To recapitulate Prof Naylor's earlier report to which l agree with, the estimation of time of death is based on certain post-mortem changes which have been previously documented." Hearing continues.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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