MANUFACTURING MANAGER FRANCIS CHAN, 42:The abnormal way Madam Valli was shouting could make your hair stand on end. RETIREE DANIEL KOH, 61: So traumatised that he had frequent nightmares. He said he felt scared during the prayer session. 'I did not open my eyes during that time partly ut of fear and partly in the hope of getting it over with'
|
TWO opposite versions of events have emerged from the long-running Novena Church 'exorcism' law suit, but both sides can at least agree on one thing - it was a traumatic experience.
Madam Amutha Valli Krishnan, 52, who sued two priests and six church-goers, claims she has been so traumatised by the so-called exorcism they allegedly forced on her in 2004 that she cannot go about her life normally now.
But three of the church-goers, who responded to a priest's call to help pray over her, have also said they were traumatised by her hysterical and abnormal behaviour that night.
Two men who took the stand yesterday morning said they were so frightened to see what was going on that they kept their eyes closed while they knelt and prayed.
Manufacturing manager Francis Chian Kim Fook, 42, said the abnormal way Madam Valli was shouting 'could make your hair stand on ends'.
When she proclaimed to be Lucifer, widely known as the name of the devil, he felt goosebumps. Mr Chian said he could also hear hissing noises, the sound of something gliding on the floor and Madam Valli hurling vulgarities.
Describing himself as a 'reluctant' volunteer, he said his account of what happened in the room that night may not be complete as his eyes were shut most of the time.
As for retiree Daniel Koh Cheng Swee, 61, he was so traumatised that he had frequent nightmares. 'I'm not a brave man. I'm afraid of the dark,' he readily admitted.
He said he felt uncomfortable and scared during the prayer session. 'I did not open my eyes during that time partly out of fear and partly in the hope of getting it over with,' said Mr Koh.
On Wednesday, the first church-goer to take the stand, Mr Nasrom Abdullah, 43, also said the incident left him suffering nightmares.
Yesterday, Madam Valli's lawyer R.S. Bajwa grilled the two men as he tried to establish that one of the priests, Father Simon Tan, was conducting an exorcism.
Mr Chian maintained that 'we just prayed' and said he could not recall the details as he was 'deep in prayer'.
Mr Bajwa contended that Mr Chian knew what happened but was trying to avoid going into areas that could cause him 'problems'.
The lawyer also accused Mr Koh, who said he did not hear much of the goings on, of leaving out details and giving 'convenient' testimony.
selinal@sph.com.sg
|
