Human bones, firewood remnants recovered, Appeals Court told

The police recovered fragments of human bones and remnants of fire wood used to burn the bodies of victims, based on information from two accused persons, the Appeals Court here heard today.

Deputy public prosector Saiful Edris Zainuddin submitted that a major lead which strengthened the prosecution's case was when T. Thilaiyalagan and R. Kathavarayan led the police to recover several incriminating items disposed by them.

He said both Thilaiyalagan had Kathavarayan pointed to where the fragments of human bones and ashes were disposed into Sungai Panchau, adding that it was Kathavarayan who first pointed to where the bones and ashes were found.

He said Kathavarayan, Thilaiyalagan and a third man, U. Suresh had also taken the police to other places to recover several incriminating items.

Suresh is currently serving a 20-year jail sentence for disposing evidence related to the murder.

Saiful Edris said three Blackberry phones belonging to cosmetics millionairess Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya's aides were found at the Pasar Besar water lock, Banting after Kathavarayan and Thilaiyalagan led the police there.

He said a Seiko Honda Racing Team wrist-watch belonging to Sosilawati's driver, Kamaruddin Shamsuddin was also recovered after the two accused persons and Suresh led them to Jambatan Sungai Endah.

He said Kathavarayan and Suresh also led the police to Jambatan Sungai Endah where a wrist-watch, 'Bell & Ross' belonging to lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim was found.

Saiful Edris submitted that Thilaiyalagan took the police to the Sungai Arak waste dump where 14 remnants of fire wood and log used to burn the victims' bodies were found.

"On arrival at the place, the second appellant (Thilaiyalagan) had said, 'Kayu ini gunakan bakar mereka' (wood was used to torch them)," he said.

Saiful Edris said Thilaiyalagan and Suresh also led the police to Sungai Kelanang to recover six burnt zinc sheets which were used as base to burn the victims' bodies.

Saiful Edris was submitting in the appeal brought by former lawyer N. Pathmanabhan, 45, and farmhands Thilaiyalagan, 23, R. Matan, 24 and Kathavarayan, 35, against a Shah Alam High Court decision to convict and sentence them to death for the murder of Sosilawati, 47, bank officer Noorhisham Mohamad, 38, Ahmad Kamil, 32, and Sosilawati's driver Kamaruddin, 44.

They were accused of committing the offence at Lot 2001, Jalan Tanjong Layang, Tanjung Sepat in Banting between 8.30pm and 9.45pm on Aug 30, 2010.

Saiful Edris said Suresh had also brought the police to Subang Jaya where the ignition key of a black BMW X5 car used by Sosilawati on the day she went to Banting, was found in a drain.

He said the information given by the two accused and Suresh, leading to the discovery of those items within the surrounding area of Banting and Subang Jaya were admissable.

Saiful Edris also argued that Pathmanabhan had the motive to murder Sosilawati because he had insufficient funds to honour the cheques worth RM3 million and RM1 million due to Sosilawati over the sale of a plot of land in Penang.

The hearing before a three-member panel chaired by Datuk Aziah Ali continues Monday.