Company letterheads were used to make claims

The inquest into the Teoh Beng Hock inquest today, centred on alleged misappropriation of Selangor state funds involving four companies whose projects are claimed to be non-existent.

The invoices and documentation of the four companies were retrieved from Teoh's laptop by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission on July 15, 2009, a day before Teoh was found dead at Plaza Masalam.

MACC investigating officer Mohd Anuar Ismail, the 16th witness to give evidence in the inquest gave a brief description as to how its investigations were focussed and what probably went on in Teoh's mind on the night he was questioned.

Questioned by the MACC head of prosecution, Abdul Razak Musa, the witness explained that the four companies in question had given permission to certain individuals to use their company letterheads.

Mohd Anuar revealed the modus operandi employed where certain elected representatives would use the company letterheads to carry out projects in their constituency, which is claimed to be non-existent. When payments are made certain individuals, including the companies themselves, take a commission.

The four companies in question were:

1) Fizami Construction Sdn Bhd

2) Aris Enterprise Sdn Bhd

3) MKMN Enterprise Sdn Bhd

4) MA Bina Melor Sdn Bhd

Abdul Razak: What was Selangor state executive councillor's Ean Yong Hian Wah's role in all this? (Teoh is Ean Yong's political aide).

Mohd Anuar: To approve and give out certain projects.

Teoh's role

Abdul Razak: What was Teoh's role in this process?

Mohd Anuar: He is the individual entrusted with the responsibility to prepare the necessary documentation and verify that such works have been completed

Abdul Razak: In your investigations, what did the four companies reveal to you?

Mohd Anuar: The four companies revealed that certain individuals would use their documents including company letterheads to make claims.

Abdul Razak: How many projects were there and their total?

Mohd Anuar : Fizami Construction (21 projects) amounting to RM147,812, Aris Enterprise (14 projects) valued at RM88,275.30, MKMN Enterprise (six projects) RM50,765 and MA Bina Melor (seven projects) RM69,010. We have documentation on the alleged payments made out to these projects including original vouchers and certain individuals obtaining financial gain through commissions paid by these companies.

Earlier, the same witnesses revealed seven companies where their letterheads were used and their projects were allegedly non-existent.

Evidence expunged

Earlier, Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas ordered all other revelations of alleged financial gains made by the DAP to be expunged from court records following objections from lawyers.

Azmil explained that the revelations were not within the scope of the inquest.

"The inquest should focus on Teoh's cause of death," he said.

Coroner Azmil, however, allowed Abdul Razak to question Mohd Anuar on the four invoices retrieved from Teoh's laptop.

Teoh was summoned to the Selangor MACC on July 15 to be a witness into a probe concerning the alleged abuse of state allocation funds. His body was found the next day on the fifth floor landing of the building which houses the state MACC office. The inquest is being held to determine the cause of his death.

Questions on four invoices only

The evidence was expunged following objections from lawyers Salim Bashir (representing Ean Yong), Gobind Singh Deo (for the Teoh family) and Rajpal Singh (for the Bar Council).

Gobind (left) accused Abdul Razak of turning the inquest into a corruption trial and using the forum "for publicity".

"This forum should not be used to implicate Teoh. It is an inquest to determine his cause of death and should not be used to incriminate him since he has already died and therefore, cannot defend himself."

Gobind further objected to Abdul Razak submitting new evidences on seven companies allegedly involved in projects that were approved. He said that the agreement arrived at yesterday, was for the MACC lawyer to submit invoices from these four companies only.

Coroner Azmil, however, allowed Abdul Razak to question Mohd Anuar on the four invoices retrieved from Teoh's laptop.

Malaysiakini had earlier reported on the details given out by Mohd Anuar but has removed that part of his testimony after the expunge order was issued.

Teoh was seen arguing with Tan

Later, while continuing with his testimony, Mohd Anuar said that he was informed by another officer that MACC witness and DAP's Kajang municipal councillor Tan Boon Wah (right) was seen arguing with Teoh at the MACC office at about 2am.

Mohd Anuar explained that the officer told him the alleged argument took place at the men's room. Tan was also present, for questioning, at the MACC that night.

The witness also explained to the coroner the reason the commission conducted night interrogations, was so that the interrogations do not interfere with the witnesses' day jobs.

He further added that some witnesses would not want to be seen at the MACC building in the daytime and, thence, pick night time to record their statements.

Mohd Anuar also gave his reasons for not lodging a police report immediately after finding Teoh's body. He felt that the first person who would have found the body would have already done so.

Salim: Rebutted earlier evidence

Salim, (representing Ean Yong (left) ) during a cross-examination of Mohd Anuar, then showed the witness a stack of documents and pictures on alleged projects done by the four companies in question.

Salim: Did you investigate these four invoices?

Mohd Anuar: Yes, it was retrieved from Teoh's laptop by a MACC officer.

Salim: Are you the MACC officer responsible for such documentation to appear in a blog?

Mohd Anuar: I don't know.

Salim then produced evidence based on pictures taken by three of the four companies in question including construction on some of the projects. The fourth company's details on the projects, Salim explained, are with the Land office

Salim: Do you agree after watching these photographs that these are valid projects?

Mohd Anuar: I agree.