In her lawsuit, Madam Amutha Valli Krishnan claims to have been traumatised by an alleged forced exorcism in August 2004, an experience which left her fearful of going out, being alone and being around strangers.

But the picture of her that emerged in the footage shot by a private investigator (PI) working for the defence was one of a woman who went out to restaurants and the temple and walked alone at night.

The clip, edited from video footage filmed between December 2006 and May last year, was shown as part of the cross-examination of one of her doctors, Associate Professor Ong Thiew Chai.

In it, she was seen walking along a crowded walkway in Serangoon Road without visible fear. She also seemed relaxed while having tea with her 'sworn brother' Resham Singh. Madam Valli was shown using a walking stick, but was able to kneel and bow at a temple with no apparent discomfort.

The PI said in his report that she once walked 1.5km from a restaurant to a temple without difficulty. At home, she was seen hanging out the laundry with ease.

The footage of her working out at a community club gym drew the most audible reactions from those present in the court.

Noting that she was on the stepper machine for 30 minutes, defence lawyer Tito Isaac drew laughter when he quipped: 'It's quite a feat...I don't think I can do it.'

In the video, Madam Valli was well dressed and wore makeup when she went out. On various occasions, she wore a bright green blouse and a black skirt, a cream-coloured, sequinned Punjabi suit and a red-and-white Punjabi suit.

When she had to see her doctors, however, she wore pyjamas and a windbreaker and walked more slowly. Her face was devoid of makeup and, in a fleeting shot, she wore a vacant stare.

Prof Ong, who diagnosed her as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with depression following the alleged incident at the Novena Church, will be cross-examined on the video today.

Earlier yesterday, Senior Counsel Jimmy Yim questioned him to establish the case that she was faking her mental illness to exact compensation from the church.

Prof Ong replied that it was possible for one to 'act out' the symptoms, but stuck by his diagnosis of PTSD.

Mr Yim, noting that Madam Valli had tried to suppress her medical history from the court in the run-up to the hearing, asked whether this behaviour was consistent with that of a true PTSD patient or a malingerer.

Prof Ong replied after a pause: 'On this point, she has deceived everybody.'

He conceded that she could be faking her illness, but said: 'She could be malingering and she could also have PTSD.'

selinal@sph.com.sg