SINGAPORE: Day 21 of the Amutha Valli alleged forced exorcism trial saw her lawyer insisting that the two defendant priests had performed an exorcism on his client in substance, although not in form.

Mr RS Bajwa put it to Father Jacob Ong that because the priests had not conducted the full rite, this had worsened Amutha Valli's condition.

In the witness stand for the first time, Father Jacob Ong maintained that he and Father Simon Tan had only conducted a prayer of deliverance on Amutha Valli.

He described the atmosphere of the prayer session at the Novena Church as meditative and contemplative. This was before she turned violent.

Father Ong denied being told by Amutha Valli's family that she had tried to commit suicide, two weeks before the incident.

He said he also found it odd that Amutha Valli's family had sought help from the church, when her sworn brother Resham Singh had demonstrated the ability to command the 'soldier spirit' which Amutha had manifested during the session.

The High Court hearing resumes on Monday, with Amutha Valli's current psychiatrist, Dr Angelina Chan, taking the stand. - CNA/vm

• Defendants' lawyers demand apology from plaintiff's lawyer in exorcism trial • Novena priest says no exorcism has been performed in S'pore • Woman suing church saw many doctors but refused admittance to hospital • Psychiatrist says first diagnosis of woman suing Novena Church was flawed • Woman in exorcism trial could have staged trance, says psychiatrist