Accused loses cool in witness stand
KUALA LUMPUR: The first day of the defence trial for the murder of deputy public prosecutor Datuk Anthony Kevin Morais at the High Court here became tense when the first accused, pathologist Colonel Dr R. Kunaseegaran, shouted when testifying in the witness stand.
Kunaseegaran, 55, initially responded to questions by his lawyer, Datuk N. Sivananthan, calmly, but as soon as the latter asked about the accused’s response on the theory that he was angry with Morais, who had handled his case at the Shah Alam Court, to the extent that he wanted to do something bad, the pathologist responded furiously.
“Kevin Morais was a prosecutor. His job was to prosecute. He just did his job. If I said I’m glad that he prosecuted me, of course not. But, I have used the law to defend myself. I let the lawyer talk on my behalf. I never said anything to Kevin Morais nor to his relatives.
“It seems like everyone is saying that I’m disappointed with Kevin Morais. What proof do you have? Show me the proof! Have I ever threatened anyone? No!” he shouted before his lawyer calmed him down.
After Kunaseegaran, clad in a black suit, settled down, he repeatedly apologised to the court, saying he had been in jail for 2½ years and was stressed and did not intend to scold anyone.
Judge Datuk Azman Abdullah advised the accused to calm down and answer the question properly as his testimony would be recorded.
During examination-in-chief by Sivananthan, Kunaseegaran said he had been charged with several charges at the Shah Alam court and Morais had offered him bail.
“Why should I be upset with Kevin? I went through my trial well. There is no reason to hurt anyone.”
Earlier, responding to Sivananthan’s question on when he knew about Morais’s death, Kunaseegaran said it was on Sept 15, 2015, when he was arrested and taken to the Kepong police station and an officer told him.
He said he told the police officer that he would give his full cooperation to assist the case. In reply to a suggestion by deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin during cross-examination that only Kunaseegaran had the motive to kill or hire individuals to kill Morais, the witness said he disagreed. “Yes, I had a case in Shah Alam (court). They (the other accused) did not. I do not know if they have a motive or not.”
When Wan Shaharuddin asked the witness whether Morais was a good deputy public prosecutor, he said: “Yes, I think so. I do not know, but (from) what I saw, he was good.”
He said Morais was not a threat to him.
During the re-examination by Sivananthan, Kunaseegaran continued to assert that he did not consider Morais an enemy, but respected him and hoped he would return home safely when he heard he was missing.
“I have never seen him as an enemy. I (have) always respected him as a deputy public prosecutor. I’m also the first person to tell Jay (the second accused, who has been released after serving a jail sentence) about Kevin Morais being missing.”
Kunaseegaran; R.Dinishwaran, 26; A.K Thinesh Kumar, 25; M. Vishwanath, 28; S. Nimalan, 25; and, S. Ravi Chandaran, 47, pleaded not guilty to a charge of murdering Kevin Morais between 7am and 8pm on Sept 4, 2015, while Morais was on his way from Jalan Dutamas 1, Sentul, to 1, Jalan USJ1/6D, Subang Jaya.
They were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same code, which carries the death sentence, upon conviction.
Morais’ body was found in a concrete-filled drum in Subang Jaya on Sept 16, 2015.