SHAH ALAM, Feb 8 — The High Court heard today that former lawyer N. Pathmanabhan, the first accused in the murder case of Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and three others, issued two cheques totalling RM4 million to a company owned by the cosmetic millionaire, Bernama Online reported today.

Operations manager, Yvonne Tiong Guat Choo, of the Banting branch of Hong Leong Bank told the court the two cheques, both dated September 9, 2010, were issued from Pathmanabhan’s personal account and made out to Southern Symphony Sdn Bhd, which was owned by Sosilawati.

She also stated the cheques were not cashed until September 15, 2010.

The amount in Pathmanabhan’s personal account as of August 30, 2010, was RM1,383,943.85, while the balance in Southern Symphony’s account was RM106,369.73, she added.

Tiong said that based on a statement of Pathmanabhan’s account, there were four withdrawals through four cheques totalling RM1,010,000 on August 30, 2010; two withdrawals through two cheques for RM800,000 on September 1, 2010; and two withdrawals through two cheques for RM500,000 on September 3, 2010.

On deposits into Pathmanabhan’s account, she said the statement showed that RM800,000 was deposited on August 25, 2010 and two transactions, involving RM1.6 million in cash, were deposited on August 26, 2010.

In separate testimony, investigating officer ASP Mohd Ishak Yaakob testified that interrogation officer Chief Inspector N. Govindan had contacted him on September 12, 2010, to inform him that the three other suspects in the case were willing to disclose several locations allegedly used in the case.

He said that when they were at Ladang Gadong in Banting, he saw a suspect, Kathavarayan, showing a clearing with visible scorch marks and that when they were on the Sungai Panchau bridge, he saw Kathavarayan pointing towards the river.

Pathmanabhan and three farm workers, T. Thilaiyalagan, R. Matan and R. Khatavarayan, are charged with murdering Sosilawati, bank officer Noorhisham Mohamad, lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, and Sosilawati’s driver, Kamaruddin Shamsuddin.

Pathmanabhan, Thilaiyalagan, Matan, and Kathavarayan, are charged with committing the offence at Lot 2001, Jalan Tanjong Layang, Tanjung Sepat in Banting between 8.30pm and 9.45pm on August 30, 2010.

The accused are charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code which carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.

The hearing continues tomorrow.