Gerakan Youth is concerned with the disturbing trend of key-witnesses in court proceedings being threatened with personal safety.

Gerakan Youth vice-president Liang Teck Meng said protection and safety of key-witnesses are of utmost importance.

“Justice must take its course and key-witnesses should be allowed to give evidence and testimony without fear of their lives being threatened,” he said in a statement.

Liang said when key-witnesses of any trial were not assured of their safety, then they would not come out and justice would not be served.

“The confidence of the people in the judiciary will be eroded,” he said, urging the government to address the problem.

Liang was commenting on a police report lodged by British forensics pathologist Peter Vanezis who claimed to have received a threat by email against him and his family.

Vanezis had on Monday testified at the inquest into the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock, whose body was found outside Plaza Masalam on July 16 last year.

Recently, Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand, who was scheduled to give her testimony at the inquest, did not turn up at the inquest, citing fear of personal safety.