Inquest into death of Batu Sapi Member of Parliament, the late Datuk Edmund Chong Ket Wah

An inquest will be held into the death of Batu Sapi MP Edmund Chong Ket Wah, who was killed in a road accident last year.

Magistrate Noor Hafizah Mohd Salim on Monday 20 June 2011 set June 24 2011, this year to fix the inquest hearing date.

Earlier, Traffic Prosecuting Officer, Chief Inspector Wilynton Echana Watt, who stood in for Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharuddin, told the court that the prosecution had received instructions from the DPP's office in Putrajaya to hold the inquest.

Wilynton said the application was made under Section 339(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).

He also informed the court that they are expecting to call 40 witnesses during the inquest.

Counsel Chin Teck Ming stood in for counsel Edwin Tsen, who is holding a watching brief for the family of the deceased.

On Oct 9, 2010, Chong was killed in an accident involving his motorcycle and a Mercedes about 11.25am near Grace Ville along the coastal highway in Tanjung Aru.

The 54-year-old Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board Chairman succumbed to serious injuries at the scene.

Chong, who was also Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Treasurer-General, was riding the motorcycle towards the city when he was involved in the crash with the car, which was also heading in the same direction.

In the subsequent by-election in Batu Sapi, Edmund's wife, Datin Linda Tsen Thau Lin successfully retained the seat for BN defeating PKR's Ansari Abdullah and SAPP's Datuk Yong Teck Lee.