KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 — The Sessions Court here was today told that the cause of death of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s son-in-law Datuk Syed Alman Zain Syed Alwi was acute allergic reaction or anaphylaxis.

Syed Alman Zain was being treated at the Imperial Dental Centre at the time of the incident on June 1, 2016.

Investigating officer Dr Siti Khadijah Hawari, 37, from the Putrajaya Private Medical Practice Control branch (CKAPS) said Syed Alman Zain suffered anaphylaxis after being administered anaesthesia for dental treatment.

"The lapse between consumption of food by the victim and the dental procedure removed food allergy as the cause; also the chemist’s report did not refer to any food allergy,” the prosecution’s last witness said as she read out the post mortem report on Syed Alman Zain at the trial involving the Imperial Dental Centre.

She was responding to counsel P. Sreekant under cross examination on Syed Alman Zain’s cause of death. 

During the re-examination in-chief  by deputy public prosecutor Jaizah Jaafar Sidek on the oxygen cylinder at the premises, Dr Siti Khadijah said the item was not there during the preliminary investigation.

"The closed circuit television camera (CCTV) recording at Melbourne room (where Syed Alman Zain received dental treatment) did not show any oxygen cylinder at the time of the incident,” she said.

She said the document on the cylinder upon scrutiny during the investigation showed that it was rented on June 2, 2016, that is, one day after the incident.

Meanwhile, the prosecution closed its case after the witness ended her testimony. Thirteen prosecution witnesses testified in the trial which commenced in February 2017. 

Judge Harmi Thamri Mohamad @ Shaharuddin fixed March 15 and March 23 for submissions and March 28 for ruling. 

On Aug 12, 2016, the dental centre represented by its company director Dr Wong Yen Ling claimed trial to nine charges of involvement in Syed Alman Zain’s death.

It is accused of failing to ensure that Dr Ting Teck Chin who administered the anaesthesia to Syed Alman Zain was qualified in anaesthesiology.

The clinic is further accused of failing to ensure that the individuals who carried out the radiology procedure (orthopantomogram) and ’IV Sedation’ on Syed Alman Zain were qualified to do so.

Another charge against it is that it did not have oxygen in readiness as a basic life-saving measure in an emergency, as well as failed to submit to the University Malaya Medical Centre a copy of Syed Alman Zain’s medical records when he was transferred there.

It also allegedly failed to keep and maintain a staff registry to ensure that the medicine labelling requirements were met, as well as failed to take adequate steps to protect all healthcare professional staff and the environment against biological hazards.

The offences were allegedly committed at the clinic at Jalan Telawi, Bangsar Baru, Brickfields here, between 6 pm and 9.05 pm, between May 26 and June 2, 2016.

Seven of the charges are framed under Section 31(4), 39(2), 40(4) and 117(2)(b)(i) of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998, which carries a fine of between RM30,000 and RM300,000, on conviction.

Two other charges are framed under Regulation 49(7) and 245(6) of the Private Healthcare Facilities & Services (Private Hospitals and Other Private Healthcare Facilities) Regulations 2006, which carries a fine of up to RM10,000 or up to three months imprisonment, or both, on conviction. — Bernama