Nov 14, 2007
Woman visited hospitals, clinic 7 times in 2 days after alleged
exorcism
By Jermyn Chow
MADAM Amutha Valli went to two hospitals and a private clinic seven
times in two days after the alleged forced exorcism on her three
years ago, the High Court heard on Wednesday.
This was revealed by her sworn brother, Mr Resham Singh, during
cross-examination by a defence counsel at the resumed hearing of
the exorcism suit brought against the Redemptorist Order which runs
the Novena Church in Thomson Road, two priests and six
churchgoers.
Madam Valli is seeking compensation for the trauma she suffered
from the alleged ritual on Aug 10, 2004.
Mr Singh, 38, a private equity investor, said since the incident,
he had taken the plaintiff to various hospitals and clinics more
than 50 times.
He said the following morning after the alleged forced exorcism,
Madam Valli went to the Tan Tock Seng Hospital twice, and also saw
her a doctor at Flame Tree Clinic.
Later that night, she called for an ambulance to send her to the
National University Hospital.
The next day on Aug 12, she went back to Flame Tree Clinic three
times between 9 am and 7 pm. Mr Singh agreed with senior counsel
Jimmy Yim, who is representing Father Jacob Ong, one of the two
priests accused of carrying out the ritual, that Madam Valli was
given painkillers and sedatives on these trips to the outpatient
clinics.
Part of a scam
Counsel then put it to Mr Singh that these visits were an attempt
to build up a case against the church and defendents, and were part
of a 'scam'.
When Mr Singh insisted that Madam Valli was unwell, counsel said:
'There's such a thing as lawyer shopping. But she is doctor
shopping.'
Mr Singh shot back: 'There's such a thing as seeking second
opinion.'
Counsel also drew attention to discrepancies in Mr Singh's
testimony, and questioned his relationship with Madam Valli and her
family.
He noted that besides staying over at her family's Ang Mo Kio flat
two to three times a week, he also had meals with her at coffee
shops and regularly accompanied her to temples.
Mr Singh said he spent time with Madam Valli not as an 'act of
kindness but out of a duty to the family'.
Daughter denies intimacy
At an earlier hearing before the case was adjourned on Nov 1, Madam
Valli's daughter, Miss Subashini Jeyabal, 22, a student, had denied
that her mother was intimate with Mr Singh.
But a private investigator had reported that Madam Valli was
emotionally attached to Mr Singh and that the two had even
travelled together.
According to Miss Subashini, Mr Singh is her 'father's good
friend's son' and he began staying at the family's Ang Mo Kio flat
only early this year.
No sign of Mdm Valli
Madam Valli did not show up in court on Wednesday when the hearing
resumed after a two-week break. Her lawyer, Mr R.S. Bajwa told the
court that she has been warded at Changi General Hospital and was
'certified unfit' to attend court until Nov 20.
The hearing was adjourned on Nov 1 after Madam Valli repeatedly
said she could not recall her family history and past medical
records when cross-examined by defence lawyers.
It is not known when or whether Madam Valli will be back in court
for the hearing, which is expected to stretch until next
year.
Hearing continues on Thursday.
