Kovan murder trial: Prosecution poke holes in testimony
Prosecution points out inconsistencies between accused's testimony and evidence:
On the eighth day of the Kovan double murder trial, prosecutors completed their cross-examination of cop Iskandar Rahmat.
They pointed out what they said were inconsistencies between his testimony and the evidence presented before the court.
Iskandar, 36, is accused of the July 10, 2013 murder of motor workshop owner Tan Boon Sin, 67, and his son Tan Chee Heong, 42, at the older man's home at 14J, Hillside Drive.
4 inconsistencies
THE FOOTPRINTS
Iskandar left bloody footprints leading from the living room to the toilet of a utility room in Mr Tan's home. The prints led back into the living room and extended to the main door. But the prints contained only traces of the senior Mr Tan's blood and not that of his son.
The prosecution believes that Iskandar attacked the elder Mr Tan before searching for an orange bag in which he had placed some $200,000 worth of valuables.
He later lay in wait behind the front door for Mr Tan Chee Heong, whom he brutally attacked. This was because he knew Mr Tan Boon Sin had called his son twice.
But Iskandar maintained that he was attacked by father and son, and had acted in self defence.
The footprints, he said, were a result of him going to the toilet in the utility room to look for a towel to bandage his injured right hand.
THE PLAN
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Prem Raj Prabhakaran said killing the elder Mr Tan had always been part of Iskandar's plan.
The DPP read out a statement where Iskandar admitted to covering Mr Tan's mouth with his left hand when the older man started shouting. He then stabbed him in the neck multiple times.
"You were aware that you stabbed him multiple times, you did that to silence him forever," said the DPP.
"You've now changed your account, really because you want to explain the large number of wounds you've inflicted on him.
"Your behaviour is inconsistent with someone panicking and trying to run for his life."
Iskandar again disagreed, saying that the elder Mr Tan had attacked him first and that he was acting in self defence. And contrary to the prosecution's suggestion, he said he was in a state of panic and was not thinking about the bag of money.
THE KNIFE
Prosecutors believe that Iskandar incorrectly drew the sort of knife he used in the attack to mislead investigators.
Pathologist Gilbert Lau had earlier testified that the knife blade had to be at least 13cm in length - the depth of the deepest wound.
But Iskandar had always said that the knife, including blade and handle, was about the length of the short side of a sheet of A4 paper, which is about 21cm. And he drew the knife to have a blade and a handle of equal length.
THE DELAY
Justice Tay Yong Kwang also spent some time questioning Iskandar. He asked why the accused waited so long to grab the bag of valuables if his intention was indeed to steal from the elder Mr Tan.
When Iskandar said he was afraid of pushing the older Mr Tan, who was standing near the bag for most of the incident, Justice Tay asked: "What's the big deal about pushing him?"
"I didn't want to hurt (the elder Mr Tan)," Iskandar said.
"I already felt bad that I had to (commit the theft), I didn't want to cause hurt."
ABOUT THE CASE
On July 10, 2013, the body of Mr Tan Chee Heong, 42, was found with stab wounds at a taxi stand outside Kovan MRT Station. The body had been dislodged after being dragged nearly 1km by his father's car.
The car was driven by Iskandar Rahmat, 36, who is on trial for the double murders of Mr Tan and his father Tan Boon Sin, 67.
The father's body was found with multiple stab wounds in his home at 14J, Hillside Drive.
Iskandar fled to Malaysia that night, but was arrested in a Johor Baru eatery two days later.
Then a police officer with the Bedok Police Division, he was facing disciplinary proceedings because of a $50,000 debt to OCBC Bank.
The prosecution maintains that Iskandar had hatched an elaborate plan to rob and kill the older man to ease his money problems.
His defence says the incident was a theft gone wrong with tragic consequences.
After eight days of witness testimony, both sides will submit their closing arguments on Nov 23 before Justice Tay Yong Kwang.
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