By Rita Jong

KUALA LUMPUR: Teoh Beng Hock's family has given consent to have his body exhumed for the purpose of a second post-mortem to be conducted by Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunan.

Counsel Gobind Singh Deo, who is representing the family, said he would be making an application to the coroner at the latest by tomorrow to exhume the political aide's body.

"We will file a certificate of urgency and hope to get a hearing date soon to make the formal application in court. We hope to have the second autopsy done before the next inquest hearing on Nov 9."

The family's decision to exhume the body for the second post-mortem came after Dr Pornthip's testimony that there was 80 per cent chance that Teoh's death was a result of homicide and 20 per cent suicide.

Her evidence on Wednesday contradicted the findings of two pathologists - Dr Khairul Azman Ibrahim, of Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, Klang and Dr Prashant Naresh Samberkar, of University Malaya Medical Centre.

Dr Pornthip told the coroner's court on Wednesday that the injuries on Teoh suggested that there was manual strangulation and that he was unconscious when he fell.

She also testified that there were pre-fall injuries at the anal region and at the back of his right thigh.

Dr Pornthip was called in as an independent expert witness by the Selangor state government.

She, however, had said her findings were only based on photographs, X-rays, and the post-mortem report.

She also said that she was ready to conduct the post-mortem herself to prove her findings.

Gobind said Teoh's family viewed the matter seriously and was willing to let Dr Pornthip carry out the autopsy.

"Dr Pornthip's findings will be very useful in assisting the coroner to make the right decision in ascertaining the circumstances which led to Teoh's death," he said.

"I had thought that following the expert's evidence, the counsel appearing for the attorney-general would have made the application."

Instead, he said, the A-G had issued a press statement on Thursday saying that it was up to the family to make the application.

"So, Teoh's family has decided to do so and I hope the A-G and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will back us up in the application."

Teoh's body was found on the fifth floor corridor of Plaza Masalam on July 16.

He was called in for questioning by the Selangor MACC to assist in investigations in a graft case involving several Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen. Following public uproar, the government ordered that an inquest be held to ascertain the circumstances leading to his death.