SEREMBAN: A former lecturer charged with the murder of her husband caused a stir when she told the High Court that the deceased was present and would like to address the court.
Lau Seck Yan, 56 (pic), said that she would be speaking on behalf of her late husband, Poh Seng Hiap.
“Good morning, everyone. I, Lau Seck Yan, have been accused of murdering Poh Seng Hiap.
“As his wife, Poh Seng Hiap would hereby like to explain that I (he) was not murdered. It was ‘ajal’ (death was fated).
“Mr Poh was not murdered,” she said.
Trial judge Justice Rohani Ismail then told the accused that the trial had not started and that the relevant documents had only been handed over to her defence team earlier in the day.
She went on to say that the court would hear the testimony of witnesses and that the accused would have her day in court at a later date.
The judge also said Lau’s defence team has also stated that they may be filing a representation (to the Attorney General’s Chambers) on the charges.
Lau, who had previously contested as an independent candidate in the Port Dickson by-election in 2018, however, continued to talk, claiming that she was innocent.
“Poh Seng Hiap was not murdered. It is ‘ajal’. Poh Seng Hiap is speaking.
“You have to understand that my wife did not kill me.
“I am Poh Seng Hiap here. Why don’t you listen to me when I say that my wife did not kill me? I was fated to die,” she said.
Lau was first charged on Jan 28 last year with committing the offence at their home at the Rasah Kemayan Golf and Country Township near here between 3.30pm and 4.30pm on Jan 23.
Poh, 55, an accountant, was reportedly stabbed in the chest and abdomen.
The Magistrate’s Court also ordered the accused to undergo psychiatric evaluation at Hospital Permai in Johor Baru.
The couple have four daughters.
When the court fixed March 3, 2025, for trial, Lau again interjected.
“You have to be fair to us, please. Poh was not murdered. It was ajal,” she said, and then went on to wish the judge: “Selamat Hari Raya, maaf zahir dan batin.”
Justice Rohani then told the accused that she always tries to be fair to everyone and that she could not give an earlier date as there were just too many cases before her.
Deputy public prosecutor Alauddin Baharom prosecuted.
