Sosilawati trial: Accused says he saw nothing unusual on farm
SHAH ALAM, July 3 — The second accused in the murder trial of cosmetics millionairess Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and three others told the High Court here today that he did not witness anything unusual at Ladang Gadong, Banting on the night of the alleged murders.
T. Thilaiyalagan, also denied hearing a woman’s screams about 9pm on the night in question, August 30, 2010.
Instead, the accused said he was with the third accused R. Matan and fourth accused R. Kathavarayan and two other farm workers, U. Suresh and K. Sarawanan, at the farm to celebrate National Day the following day.
Suresh, 28, and Sarawanan, 21, are currently serving 20-year terms in Sungai Udang Prison, Malacca for disposing of evidence in the murder case.
To a question by his lawyer Gurbachan Singh, Thiliayalagan said: “On August 30, we had some food and alcohol at a hut on the farm to celebrate Merdeka. We also tied the Malaysian and Selangor flags on a pole and ended the party about 12.30am.”
Former lawyer N. Pathmanabhan, 43, and farm workers Thilaiyalagan, Matan, 22, and Khatavarayan, 32, were ordered to enter their defence against the charge of murdering Sosilawati (picture), 47, bank officer Noorhisham Mohamad, 38, lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, 32 and Sosilawati’s driver, Kamaruddin Shamsuddin, 44.
They are alleged to have committed the offence at Lot 2001, Jalan Tanjong Layang, Tanjung Sepat, Banting, between 8.30pm and 9.45pm on August 30, 2010, and face the mandatory death sentence upon conviction under section 302 of the Penal Code.
To another question by Gurbachan, Thilaiyalagan said he did not see a big fire on the farm at midnight August 31, 2010.
“I usually light a small dry grass fire in a metal barrel after 7pm to prevent the goats, hens and turkey chicks from being bitten by mosquitoes,” he said.
He also said he did not see his employer Pathmanabhan at the farm on August 29 and 30, 2010.
He further told the court he did not know Sosilawati and the three other victims, and only saw their pictures for the first time in a newspaper cutting shown to him during police interrogation.
Gurbachan: At 7pm on August 30, 2010 did you see anyone coming to the farm?
Thilaiyalagan: Yes, Ravi’s (Kathavarayan) sister’s family came to the farm. Apart from them no one came.
Questioned on the six zinc sheets with scorch marks, entered as exhibits, Thilaiyalagan admitted using zinc sheets on the farm but not the ones referred to.
Gurbachan: Are these zinc sheets (exhibits) used on the farm?
Thilaiyalagan: These are the old types and have never been used on the farm.
The trial resumes tomorrow before Justice Datuk Akhtar Tahir. — Bernama
