The Sri Ram case: Student shocked to hear allegation

[M.G.G. Pillai]

The Star, 11 January 1997, p8:

STUDENT: I was shocked to hear allegation

SHAH ALAM: Student Govind Sri Ram told the High Court here
yesterday that he was shocked when his debate partner told she
distrusted him because he had "fabricated evidence" for a debate
which he obtained from the Internet.

Govind, 17, said Bettina Dempsey told him she would not
partner him for the Cultural Convention debate in Taipei last
March because of this.

"Bettina told me she did not trust me and feared that a
scandal might possibly arise because of the evidence.

"I was shocked and felt disgusted after listening to Bettina
because we had enjoyed good working relations in the past," he
said when answering a question from defence counsel Lim Kean Chye.

He added that his partner did not allow him to explain or
prove that he did not fabricate the information.

Govind was testifying in a RM6 million suit brought by his
mother, Chandra Sri Ram, against the International School of Kuala
Lumpur for dropping him from the school's debate team which
participated at the Cultural Convention.

Chandra has named teachers Julie Dean and Gail A Vandeland as
the first and second defendants.

Govind said Bettina also told him that their coach, Dean, was
aware of the matter and it made him believe that he was the last
person to know of the matter.

Earlier, Govind told the court that Dean had ordered him to
produce the evidence to her within one hour but he was unable to
because the school's computer had broken down.

"However, I sent the evidence through e-mail to another
debate mate, Duncan Bath, that evening," he said.

Govind said he felt humiliated when he was questioned by his
team-mates and Dean.

"They spread rumours about me to others during the debate
meet in Taipei and they also told the whole school about it," he
said.

Govind said the decision to drop him was unilterally made by
Dean and the debate team without the knowledge of the school
director, the administration, the organisers of the Cultural
Convention or his parents.

The hearing continues.

ENDS