Doctor charged with causing death of Ahmad Zahid’s son-in-law acquitted

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court here yesterday acquitted and discharged an Obstetric & Gynaecology specialist who was charged with causing the death of former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s son-in-law, Datuk Syed Alman Zain Syed Alwi, during a dental treatment three years ago.

Judge Zaman Mohd Noor ordered the release of Dr Ting Teck Chin, 38, after fi nding that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case at the end of the prosecution’s case.

“There were inconsistencies in the testimony between the anaesthetist and the autopsy expert on the cause of death of the deceased.

The anaesthetist said there was cardiac arrest as a result of oversedation, while the autopsy expert opined that the death was caused due to allergy to anaesthetic.

“However, the testimony by the anaesthetist did say the possibility of the death due to allergy to anaesthetic, although it seldom happens, but the possibility is there.

Therefore, the accused is acquitted and discharged without having to enter his defence,” said the judge.

A total of 25 prosecution witnesses testified during the hearing which began early last year.

On Aug 12, 2016, Dr Ting , who is with the O& G Department at Kuala Lumpur Hospital, pleaded not guilty to causing the death of Syed Alman Zain, 44, during a dental treatment at the Imperial Dental Specialist Centre in Jalan Telawi, Bangsar Baru, Brickfields here, between 6pm and 9.05pm on June 1, 2016.

He was charged under Section 304( b) of the Penal Code, which provides an imprisonment for up to 10 years or a fine or both, on conviction.

Syed Alman Zain, who was married to Ahmad Zahid’s eldest daughter, Datuk Nurulhidayah, 41, reportedly lost consciousness while receiving dental treatment at the centre and was referred to University of Malaya Medical Centre before being pronounced dead.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Shukor Abu Bakar, while Dr Ting was represented by lawyers Datuk K.Kumaraendran, K. Dev and Teh See Khoon. — Bernama