Illogical for Chong to overtake on right lane – eye-witness

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KOTA KINABALU: An eye-witness told the Coroner’s Court that it was illogical for former Batu Sapi member of parliament Datuk Edmund Chong to overtake the Mercedes Benz on the right lane because there was ample space at the left lane of the road.

The sixth deponent, Welmi Abdul Latif, 37, told coroner Melissa Chia she agreed with the suggestion from counsel Nelson Wences Anggang who acted for the driver of the Mercedes, Oi Thim Hoo.

Chong, who was riding his Kawasaki 750 cc motorcycle, died on the spot after his machine collided with the Mercedes car on the Coastal Highway here at 11.25am on Oct 9, 2010.

She further agreed with Nelson’s suggestion that there was a possibility that the collision between the motorcycle and the Mercedes might have happened because the right lane is narrow.

To another question by Nelson, the Indonesian trader also agreed that because the Mercedes is big, the right lane which was passed by the Mercedes only had a small space on the right and left.

“I agree that the right space on the right lane used by both the Mercedes and the motorcycle was quite narrow,” she said when asked by Nelson.

Welmi also agreed with Nelson’s suggestion that Oi drove his Mercedes faster than her car.

When questioned by Nelson, Welmi, who described the fatal accident which happened in a blink of an eye, told the coroner that what she said was based on what she saw.

Meanwhile, the ninth deponent, sergeant Amin Jamil, 53, testified that Oi did not struggle when arrested by the police.

“The driver of the Mercedes was normal and healthy during the arrest,” answered Amin when asked by traffic prosecuting officer Chief Inspector Wilynton Enchana.

Amin, who was at that time manning the information counter at the traffic office of the Kota Kinabalu branch, told the coroner that he received three reports, one from Oi, another from Welmi and an arrest report.

He further said that Oi came first to lodge the report while Welmi came soon after.

Deputy public prosecutor Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharuddin conducted the inquest into the death of Chong assisted by Wilynton, counsels Chin Teck Ming and Bartholomew Jingulam acting for the Chong family, counsel Loreto S Padua Jr holding a watching brief for Oi and Datin Sa’adah Aziz, the watching brief counsel for an insurance company.

Also present were Deputy Chief Ministers Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan and Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai and Chong’s widow, Datin Linda Tsen who is also Batu Sapi member of parliment.

The inquest resumes today.