Teoh's autopsy completed. Hope they uncover the truth soon.

Teoh's second autopsy completed, reburied Tuesday

KUALA LUMPUR: The second autopsy on Teoh Beng Hock’s remains had been completed but the results will most likely be disclosed when the inquest into his death resumes on Dec 9.

Teoh’s sister Teoh Lee Lan said the family was given a short briefing after the autopsy at the Sungai Buloh Hospital by Thai forensic pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanansunand, but it was too technical for them to understand.

“We do not know the results, or when it will be revealed. Please be patient and wait for the inquest to resume on Dec 9,” she told reporters.

Lee Lan confirmed that her brother’s remains would be reburied on Tuesday at the Nirvana Memorial Garden in Semenyih.

Teoh’s body was exhumed on Saturday after the inquest into his death ordered a second post-mortem, after Dr Pornthip testified that his likely cause of death was homicide and not suicide.

Teoh was found dead on the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam on Shah Alam on July 16 after being questioned by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC).

The commission’s Selangor office is on the 14th floor of the same building.

The autopsy started at noon after the pathologists spent the morning discussing and performing X-ray and CT scans on the body.

The autopsy, carried out by Sungai Buloh Hospital’s Pathology and Forensics Department chief Dr Shahidan Md Noor, was completed by 3.15pm.

Besides Dr Pornthip, who is engaged by the Selangor state government, others observing the autopsy were British forensic pathologist Prof Peter Vanezis, who is appointed by the MACC, and pathologists from the first autopsy Dr Khairul Azman Ibrahim and Dr Prashant Naresh Samberkar.

Dr K. Saravanan assisted by taking photographs of the post-mortem.

Lee Lan, together with her brother Beng Kee and parents Teoh Leng Hwee and Teng Shuw Hor, had arrived at the hospital at 8.30am.

Gobind Singh Deo, counsel for Teoh’s family, said no time limit was set for the autopsy.

“There is no pressure for them to finish by a certain time. What is important is that it is done thoroughly, and all aspects that can raise any doubts be addressed,” he said.

He also thanked the police for responding quickly to Dr Pornthip’s complaints that she had been followed on Friday and Saturday by providing escorts.

“To those following her, come forward and let us know who you are. Don’t be cowards,” he said.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/11/22/nation/20091122123043&sec=nation

Teoh Beng Hock's body is due for a second autopsy to day to determine the truth once and for all.

Strangely enough, the person who wrote this article sound likes 'Teoh Beng Hock' at first glance.

Teoh’s body exhumed for second autopsy today

By TEH ENG HOCK

KAJANG: Teoh Beng Hock’s body was exhumed yesterday and will undergo the second autopsy today.

His body, said to be in good condition, was sent to the Sungai Buloh Hospital where it was subjected to X-ray and CT scan.

The exhumation at the Nirvana Memorial Garden in Semenyih began at 10.40am after family members conducted prayers which started at 9am.

Teoh’s grave was cordoned off using a high white canvas, obscuring the view of some 40 pressmen and onlookers.

His body was identified by his siblings Teoh Lee Lan and Teoh Beng Kee.

The casket was then wrapped up in plastic sheets before it was placed in a hearse and sent to the Sungai Buloh Hospital, where Teoh’s parents were waiting.

It is learnt that Soh Cher Wei, who went through a marriage ceremony with Teoh after his death, stayed home as she is six months’ pregnant with his child.

The exhumation was observed by Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojan­asunand and Sungai Buloh Hospital chief pathologist Dr Shahidan Md Noor.

Teoh’s body was exhumed on the orders of the coroner after his family requested for the second autopsy to be conducted.

The request came soon after Dr Pornthip testified at his death inquest that the likely cause of death was homicide and not suicide.

She had testified that there was an 80% probability that Beng Hock was tortured and strangled.

Teoh was found dead on the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam, here on July 16 after being questioned by the Selangor branch of the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission.

The commission’s Selangor office is on the 14th floor of the same building.

Lee Lan earlier told newsmen that her heart felt heavy about the exhumation but her family hoped the second post-mortem would reveal her brother’s cause of death.

“We are prepared to find out the truth,” she said.

Gobind Singh Deo, counsel for Teoh’s family, said: “As far as I can tell, the body looked like it was in good condition. But I am a lawyer, not a doctor, so we’ll see what the experts say.”

He said that there were six pathologists present including Dr Pornthip.

“Dr Pornthip was here to observe the exhumation. We don’t want any complaints later,” said Gobind.

He said the post-mortem would be conducted at 9.30am today.

“I was told they hope to get it done by early afternoon,” he said.

Gobind added that he did not see anyone from the commission, saying they “should have sent a representative”.

Also present were Teoh’s boss Selangor state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang and Selangor state executive councillor Ronnie Liu.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/11/22/nation/5161513&sec=nation

Teoh Beng Hock to be exhumed

Let's hope that he may find peace when the truth is found out...

KLANG: The family of deceased political aide Teoh Beng Hock filed an application at the Shah Alam Coroner’s court on Tuesday to seek permission to exhume his remains for a second autopsy.

His younger sister Teoh Lee Lan said the family decided to seek the order to exhume Teoh’s remains in order to seek the truth.

She said the family believed exhuming his remains would help to validate renowned Thai forensic pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand’s expert opinion.

Dr Pornthip had testified last week at the inquest into Teoh’s death that she believed there was an 80% chance his death was due to homicide, and not due to suicide as argued by two experts appointed by the Government.

“We want a second post-mortem to strengthen Dr Pornthip’s opinion,” said Lee Lan.

She said she and her eldest brother Meng Kee filed the application accompanied by their family counsel Gobind Singh Deo.

Dr Pornthip, who is the director-general of the Thai Ministry of Justice’s Central Institute of Forensic Science, had told coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas that she was willing to conduct a second post-mortem on Teoh’s remains.

She had added that she would be able to come up with a more concise and detailed analysis if she could examine the remains.

Dr Pornthip, who was engaged by the Selangor state government to give her expert opinion at the inquest into Teoh’s death, had said that the wound in Teoh’s anal region appeared as if something had been shoved up his anus.

She had said that he may have also been strangled given the finger marks around his neck.

When questioned by Gobind at the inquest last week, Dr Pornthip said she would still be able to conduct the post-mortem in spite of the deceased having been buried almost four months ago.

Meanwhile, Lee Lan added that the family will fix a date to offer prayers at Teoh’s grave in Semenyih pending exhumation once they had obtained the court order.

Teoh, who was the political secretary to Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, had been summoned to the state Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office on the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam here for questioning on July 15.

He was found dead at the building’s fifth floor service apartment the following day.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/10/27/nation/20091027145114&sec=nation

Einstein's brain

I watched Riddles of the Dead on National Geographic this morning and stumbled upon a documentary on Albert Einstein's brain. (you know E=mc^2, also known as the theory of relativity)

In the show, it was stated that Einstein passed away in Princeton Hospital in New York.

And after his autopsy, his brain was kept and preserved by Dr. Thomas Harvey (the one doing the autopsy at the time).

However, his brain was removed without consent in hopes of finding he reason why he was so smart.(Normally the organs are put back into the body after an autopsy)

He kept it with him for more than 50 years albeit only he few pieces as he cut Einstein's brain into 240 pieces(more or less).

After some research and modern computer graphics, it was confirmed that there was something different about his brain.

1)There were significantly more glial cells in his brain especially the part use for calculating and imagination just by analysing it under a microscope.

2)With the aid of photos taken prior to cutting, a 3D model was made and a region of the brain above the ears was about 15% larger than that of a normal human's.

3)There were also guesses that point Einstein to be autistic but there is no proof as you cannot see whether a person is autistic by looking at his brain(literally).

The main reason for this documentary was to figure whether other people can be future Einsteins. You watch it here.



You can further read about this here although slightly different: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein%27s_brain#Study_finding_more_glial_cells_in_Einstein.27s_brain

Enjoy!