A Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer testified today that political secretary Teoh Beng Hock was "at the latest only going to held until 5am", for his statement to be recorded on July 16, 2009.

MACC Selangor investigations unit head Hairul Ilham Hamzah told the royal commission of inquiry investigating the death of Teoh, who fell from height hours after appearing as witness to the anti-graft authority, that the latter's employer had come looking for Teoh.

Teoh was found sprawled on the fifth floor landing hours after his statement was taken by the state MACC at their 14th floor office in Plaza Masalam.

An inquest into his death ruled an open verdict, unable to pinpoint if it was suicide or homicide.

Hairul was in charge of the operation investigating a complaint that state allocations were being misused by an elected representative.

NONE "I was informed by the security guard at about 11.45pm (on July 15, 2009) that there was a commotion at the main lobby. I went and I met Seri Kembangan assemblyperson Ean Yong Hian Wah ( right ).

"Ean Yong wanted to know why Teoh was being held so late and demanded his release. But I told him that Teoh could not be released until his statement was recorded," recounted Hairul.

He then, assured Ean Yong that Teoh would be released at the "latest by 5am".

This, said inquiry chief commission James Foong, was an "unreasonable" move.

According to Hairul, Teoh's statement was necessary to ascertain matters regarding four "suspicious-looking" invoices, but a couple of supporting documents were missing.

Hairul said that Teoh told them that documents were probably in his office but it did not strike the officers to instruct him to go get it immediately because they were of the opinion that the documents were "secondary" in importance and could be retrieved from the land office.

Foong then interjected and said "there must be a basis for suspicions in building a case and documents must be completed".

He said that the MACC enforcement teams' reasons for "prolonging Teoh's release were questionable".

"By right you should have gone to the land office (to get the supporting documents first), your logic is mind-blowing," added Foong sarcastically.

"Unless you have other intentions to detain him?" he hinted.

But Hairul answered that "it was normal to do overnight investigations and avoid "afterthought" testimony.

‘This is a sensitive case'

Conducting officer Awang Amardajaya Awang Mahmud suggested that the MACC could have conducted their probe based on information from Teoh's laptop and central processing unit (CPU) confiscated from his office at the Selangor state secretariat building.

"With the documents, laptop and CPU in MACC's possession there is no reason how Teoh can reconstruct his statement on an afterthought since the facts cannot change. If the project is there, it's there. If it's not there, it's not there," said Awang.

Hairul, however, disagreed and said that there is a "specific urgency" in certain cases.

"This case is sensitive since it involves Ean Yong," said the witness, adding that the misuse of state funds can be "classified as white collar crime".

NONE Commissioner Dr Mohamed Hatta Shaharom ( left ) asked Hairul if he was ever concerned about Teoh's welfare.

"Are the investigation officers the ones who inform the witness whether they can go home?

Hairul: It is the responsibility of the recording officer to inform the witnesses in some cases.

Mohamed Hatta: But isn't it a courtesy to the witness to tell them they can go home? The investigation officer didn't inform?

Hairul: My officer does.

Hairul also told the royal panel that three witnesses to the state fund misuse investigation - Kajang councillor Tan Boon Wah, contractor Lee Wye Weng and Teoh - spent the night at the MACC headquarters.

Mohamed Hatta:

But how could anyone sleep in there? Even a rat would not sleep there as the fire exit is locked and if there was a fire, all the three persons would be trapped," he said.

The MACC officer only said that he thought Teoh had returned home and was going to come in the next day with the necessary documents from his office.

The inquiry resumes at 9am tomorrow with the same witness.