I held on to Karpal after collision: Ramkarpal

KAMPAR: A key witness on the first day of hearing in the trial of C. Selvam, driver of the late former DAP chairman Karpal Singh, said he had held on to Karpal after the MPV they were travelling in was involved in a fatal accident.
The third son of the veteran DAP leader, Ramkarpal Singh, 38, who was a passenger in the vehicle, said: "I held on to Karpal despite repeated appeals by a fireman to release him after the collision."
To a question by DPP Yusaini Amer Abdul Karim, the Bukit Gelugor MP told the court that the fireman left him alone for some time and came back to ask him to let him (Karpal) go.
"The fireman told me to be patient and said that my father had passed away and I allowed them to take him out of the vehicle to be sent to hospital.
"I realised Karpal had suffered serious injuries on the left side of the body," Ramkarpal said.
When asked by Yusaini as to what happened on the day, Ramkarpal said he was seated behind Selvam while Karpal's personal assistant Michael Cornelius, an Indian national, sat behind him (Karpal) while Indonesian maid Selfiana Rengga, 26, was seated behind.
Ramkarpal said it was normal for Cornelius to sit behind Karpal to look into his needs.
Karpal and Cornelius, 39, died on the spot after their multi-purpose vehicle was involved in a collision with a lorry on the North- South Expressway at 1.10am on April 17, 2014.
Selfiana was seriously injured.
Selvam, 27, also an Indian national, is charged under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for dangerous and reckless driving.
"I asked the driver whether he was tired and I had offered to take over. But he said he could drive.
"I then started to check my messages and emails on my handphone," Ramkarpal, who is Bukit Gelugor MP said.
Ramkarpal said when he happened to look up, he was shocked to see the Toyota Alphard travelling at a high speed and getting too close to a lorry.
"I jumped over to Karpal's seat and held his right shoulder seconds before the vehicle swirled 360 degrees several times before coming to a halt."
Ramkarpal said he then asked Karpal whether he was okay but there was no response.
There was also no response from Cornelius. Ramkarpal said he called out for the maid but she was crying.
Yusaini is assisted by Fadhli Ab Wahab and Loke Kok Mun while Baljit Singh appeared for Selvam.
R.S N. Rayer is holding a watching brief for Karpal's family while Sangeet Kaur, a daughter of Karpal, is for the witness.
The hearing continues today.