SHAH ALAM, July 6 — A witness denied today knowing of Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya’s purported debts exceeding RM10 million, or that the latter’s relationship with her driver went beyond work, the murder trial of the cosmetics tycoon (picture) and three others heard today.
Businesswoman Junaidah Ismail, who described herself as Sosilawati’s “very close” friend of 28 years, said she did not know the details of her friend’s Nouvelle Visages business empire spanning Brunei, Singapore and Thailand.
“I suggest to you that her debts were more than RM10 million,” said defence lawyer Manjeet Singh Dhillon at the High Court here today.
“I don’t know,” answered Junaidah, 52.
Junaidah also said she last met Sosilawati on August 3, 2010, when the latter’s driver, Kamaruddin Shamsuddin, drove them to former lawyer N. Pathmanabhan’s office in Banting.
“When you were in the car, you sat at the back while Datuk Sosilawati and Kamal sat in front,” said Manjeet, using ‘Kamal’ to refer to Kamaruddin.
“I was alone at the back,” replied Junaidah.
“I put it to you that the relationship between Kamal and Sosilawati was not just a driver-(employer) or peer relationship, but went deeper than that,” said Manjeet.
“I don’t know,” answered Junaidah, who wore a black headscarf over a fuchsia baju kurung.
The events management businesswoman said Pathmanabhan had given Sosilawati a RM1 million cheque, which was post-dated in September, issued to the latter’s Southern Symphony company.
Pathmanabhan and three plantation workers — T. Thailayangan, R. Matan and R. Kathavarayan — are accused of murdering Sosilawati, 47, Kamaruddin, 44, banker Noorhisham Mohamad, 37, and lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, 31, on Pathmanabhan’s farm at Lot 2001, Jalan Tanjung Layang, Tanjung Sepat, Banting.
The four were allegedly killed on August 30, 2010, between 8.30pm and 9.45pm, before their bodies were burnt and their ashes thrown into a river.
Pathmanabhan, 42, Thailayangan, 20, Matan, 20, and Kathavarayan, 31, are charged under section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
Junaidah said Kamaruddin was also Sosilawati’s personal assistant as he helped to manage the millionaire’s properties, such as houses for rent.
The businesswoman added that Sosilawati and Pathmanabhan had discussed a land deal in Penang in 2007 or 2008, but said she was not aware of the details.
Junaidah further said that Barisan Nasional’s Sementa assemblyman Datuk Abdul Rahman Palil was involved in a project with Sosilawati a month before the latter’s death.
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