Tun Dr Mahathir Testifies In Court

KOTA BAHARU, May 6 (Bernama) -- Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad Sunday appeared in open court for the first time, to testify in a trial of a businessman charged with spraying a certain substance at him and three others in an incident at the Pengkalan Chepa airport here in July last year.
He told a packed Magistrate's Court here that he did not actually see the person who had sprayed the substance but was informed later by one of his bodyguards, DSP Mazli Mazlan, that it was businessman Datuk Nik Sapeia Nik Yusof who had done so.
"Mazli told me that Nik Sapeia had sprayed the substance," said Dr Mahathir when testifying as the key witness in the trial of Nik Sapeia before Magistrate Azman Mustapha. His testimony took more than one hour.
Nik Sapeia, 53, is charged with inflicting harm on the former prime minister, former Pasir Mas Member of Parliament Datuk Ibrahim Ali, Mohd Nasir Muda and Suberi Sahidan by spraying a substance hazardous to the body at the airport on July 28.
The businessman, a former Umno leader in Kelantan and currently the People's Progressive Party (PPP) Kelantan chairman, is charged under Section 324 of the Penal Code and faces a maximum of three years jail or a fine or whipping or any two of the penalties, upon conviction.
Questioned by counsel Zainal Abidin Mustapha, who represented Nik Sapeia, Dr Mahathir said that prior to the (spraying) incident, a stout man in a black jacket attempted to prevent him from entering a Mitsubishi Pajero four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicle, which was at the main entrance to the airport, from which he was to address a gathering.
"It was when I was trying to stand in the vehicle (which has a sunroof) to address the crowd that I experienced difficulty in breathing and my throat became sore," he added.
He also told the court that he was in Kelantan that day on an invitation by a non-governmental organisation to give a talk at a function.
"Ibrahim and Tan Sri Abdullah Ahmad invited me," he added.
Dr Mahathir said there were three others in the 4WD vehicle and they were Ibrahim, the driver and another person not known to him and that Nik Sapeia was believed to be near the vehicle.
He said that in the chaotic situation, one of his bodyguards pulled him by the hand and took him to another vehicle.
He said that while in the vehicle, he used a wet towel to wipe the substance off his face and that about 15 minutes later, his condition was back to normal.
To a question by Deputy Public Prosecutor Raja Rozela Raja Toran, who wanted to know why he did not seek medical treatment, Dr Mahathir said it was nothing unusual and also because he had never experienced the situation before.
"I did not regard it to be serious to require treatment because my personal physician, Datuk Dr Mohamad Nasir Muda, was with me," he added.
Asked about his relationship with Nik Sapeia, Dr Mahathir said he had known the businessman for about 20 years and regarded him as a friend.
He also said that he had agreed to get into Nik Sapeia's vehicle after addressing the crowd at the airport from the 4WD vehicle provided by Ibrahim.
Cross-examined by Zainal Abidin on the person who had sprayed the substance, Dr Mahathir said he thought it was by the police and that it was done for his safety when the situation went out of control.
"I thought it was to control the situation, but I did not see who actually did it," he added.
He also said that he did not lodge a police report on the incident because he felt that it was not something serious.
A policeman, Lance Corporal Mohd Sofian Husin, also testified today.
The hearing continues tomorrow.