PUTRAJAYA: There is evidence that former pathologist Colonel Dr R. Kunaseegaran was involved in the murder of DPP Datuk Anthony Kevin Morais 10 years ago, the Federal Court heard.
DPP Mohd Fuad Abdul Aziz argued that although Kunaseegaran, the first appellant, was not at the scene, witness testimonies proved he had a motive and was involved in the murder of Morais, whose body was found in a metal drum filled with concrete.
"G. Gunasekaran, the 54th prosecution witness (SP54), stated in his evidence that he was told by the first appellant that the deceased was troubling him by adding charges against him (for a corruption case).
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"SP54 was contacted by the first appellant when he rushed out of his shop after seeing blood flowing out of the drum and while SP54 was recounting the incident, the appellant calmly asked SP54 not to interfere in the matter," he said on Wednesday (April 23) at the hearing of the appeal of six men against their conviction and death sentence.
Besides Kunaseegaran, 62, the other five are moneylender S. Ravi Chandran, 54; and four unemployed persons, R. Dinishwaran, 33, AK Thinesh Kumar, 32, M. Vishwanath, 35, and S. Nimalan, 32.
Fuad argued that Kunaseegaran's action of showing a picture of the deceased's car, which was found burnt, to Gunasekaran via the appellant's mobile phone also proved his involvement in the murder.
"SP54 said the doctor showed him a picture of the car and informed him that the car belonged to the missing prosecutor," said Fuad.
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Originally, Gunasekaran was charged with six others including Kunaseegaran for allegedly killing Morais, but the charges against him were withdrawn after he pleaded guilty in the Sessions Court to disposing of Morais' body and was sentenced to two years in prison.
Gunasekaran later became the prosecution's main witness.
Meanwhile, Fuad said there was testimony from SP46 (a DPP) stating that he saw Kunaseegaran's dissatisfied reaction each time Morais added charges against him.
He also said there was testimony stating that Kunaseegaran had paid the legal fees of other appellants.
"This shows the involvement of the first appellant and the five other appellants with common intent in causing the death of the deceased," he said.
The appeal is being heard before a three-judge panel chaired by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, sitting with Court of Appeal president Justice Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim and Federal Court judge Justice Datuk Rhodzariah Bujang.
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The panel then set Thursday (April 24) for case management and to set a date for the appeal to be continued.
On March 14 last year, the Court of Appeal upheld the death sentences imposed by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on the six men.
On July 10, 2020, they were sentenced to death by the High Court after being found guilty of murdering Morais at a location along Jalan Dutamas Raya Sentul and Jalan USJ 1/6D, Subang Jaya between 7am and 8pm on Sept 4, 2015.
Morais, 55, was reported missing on that date and was last seen leaving in a car from his Menara Duta condominium in Kuala Lumpur to his office at the Attorney General's Chambers in Putrajaya.
His body was found in a concrete-filled drum at Persiaran Subang Mewah, Subang Jaya on Sept 16 the same year. – Bernama
