The heat was turned on for a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer during the Teoh Beng Hock inquest proceedings today.

During cross examination, lawyer Gobind Singh, who is acting for Teoh’s family, grilled MACC investigating officer Mohd Anuar Ismail over his alleged lackadaisical attitude.

He also came under fire for only lodging a police report on the next day (July 17) after the incident after being instructed to do so and after seeking advice from the MACC headquarters.

NONE Mohd Anuar ( right ) at times could not answer or took a long time to respond to the questions posed by Gobind in relation to the weaknesses in MACC's standard operating procedure when conducting investigations.

The MACC officer, who is the 16th witness, said he suspected Teoh was having difficulties when his statement was recorded at about 2am by a MACC officer.

"I suspected that something was amiss, but decided not to ask Teoh on what was troubling him in front of the recording officer," he testified.

"He appeared uncomfortable to say something before the recording officer when I came to check on him at that time. However, I did not pursue the matter and continued sleeping," he added.

'He was holding something back'

Gobind: Were you not concerned to find out what was going on?

Mohd Anuar:

For me, it appeared like he was keeping something to himself. He was holding something back.

Gobind: You were not concerned over what he was holding back and merely depended on a reply from the recording officer?

Mohd Anuar: Yes, I did not think there was a need at that time to ask Teoh

Gobind: What did you do next?

Mohd Anuar: Go back to sleep.

gobind singh deo jalan duta court 230409 05 Gobind: You knew he had something to tell and you were not concerned to find out? I put it to you that you were not bothered about Teoh?

Mohd Anuar: I do not agree.

Gobind: Why did you go to sleep?

Mohd Anuar: I was exhausted.

Gobind: This happened while Teoh was sitting there at 2am severely under pressure, oppressed and having his statement recorded?

Mohd Anuar: I do not agree

Gobind: Do you know that Teoh could have been oppressed while the interrogation was going on?

Mohd Anuar: I was informed by my officers (the interrogator and the recording officer) from time to time.

The witness testified that he woke up between 8.30am and 8.45am and saw Teoh sleeping on the sofa.

He said the DAP political aide, who was said to have his plunged to his death from the building, was released at 3.45am but decided not to return home and stayed at the MACC Selangor office located on the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam.

On lodging a police report

Following this, Mohd Anuar was then grilled over his non-action when he saw Teoh's body.

Gobind: What time did you see Teoh's body?

Mohd Anuar: 2pm

Gobind: Did you lodge a police report or call the police?

Mohd Anuar: No. I went to Putrajaya MACC to seek advise.

Gobind: Come-on, you are the investigating officer, and Teoh was your witness under your custody, you should have at least lodged a police report or called the police? What does your conscience tell you.

Mohd Anuar:

No I went to Putrajaya MACC first.

Gobind: Why not lodge a police report?

Mohd Anuar:

Panic

Gobind: Did you call the police to inform them?

Mohd Anuar: No

NONE Gobind: Is this the right thing to do? Leaving the body there and going to Putrajaya? Not informing his relatives, his lawyers or the state government? You are the investigating officer and Teoh was your witness.

Mohd Anuar: No answer

Gobind then showed several provisions under the Criminal Procedure Code on the requirement for an enforcement officer to immediately notify the police should there be a death or should he suspect the witness to be suicidal.

Mohd Anuar: I was not aware of the provision. I only lodged a police report the next day upon instructions from my superior Hishamuddin Hashim (Selangor MACC acting deputy director).

Gobind: Are you hiding something or removing evidence implicating MACC resulting in you to only lodge a police report the next day?

Mohd Anuar: I disagree.

Teoh looked 'restless'

azlan Responding to a question from MACC's head of prosecution Abdul Razak Musa, Mohd Anuar said he was investigating Teoh over the alleged misappropriation of allocation given to each assemblyperson.

Mohd Anuar said MACC had seized boxes of documents of suspected misappropriation cases from contractors and was investigating the case involving Selangor exco Ean Yong Hiam, for whom Teoh worked.

Abdul Razak: How was Teoh's state of mind when he was called in?

Mohd Anuar: He was restless ( gelisah )

Abdul Razak: Did you also seize a laptop and its contents from Teoh

Mohd Anuar: Yes, we also printed four documents involving invoices. One of which involves a claim from a Class F bumiputera company.

Abdul Razak then tried to admit the documents and Teoh's cautioned statement while being recorded by the recording officer as evidence.

However, this was objected by Gobind.

Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas postponed hearing to tomorrow morning.

This is to allow Ean to appoint a lawyer in light of the allegations made by MACC regarding him misappropriating funds as well as to allow the police investigating officer to record a statement from Mohd Anuar Ismail over this matter.