The royal commission of inquiry said today that they have been getting public feedback on the conduct of several Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) witnesses and among them were complaints of abuse.

Based on the complaints and reports, the royal panel’s commissioners went as far as to suggest that MACC’s assistant enforcement officer, Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus, was Selangor investigation unit head Hairul Ilham Hamzah’s “ budak suruhan ” (minion).

NONE The inquiry’s chief commissioner, James Foong ( left ), reading out from his mobile phone, said that a police report has been lodged by a man arrested by Hairul and Mohd Ashraf on June 24, 2009.

“The report said that you kept his IC (identity card) until July 1. Injury confirmed, case pending investigation,” said Foong.

“Another text message says the public impression is that Mohd Ashraf is ‘Hairul’s boy’ or specifically ‘ budak suruhan ’,” said Foong and another commissioner, T Selventhiranathan.

They suggested that the officers could have been tasked with the interview duty so that they can “force confessions” from Teoh.

“Teoh walked into Plaza Masalam healthy but came out dead,” Selventhiranathan pointed out.

He also blasted Hairul for reiterating that he could not recall “specific details” of his conversations with investigation officer Anuar Ismail.

“Since he always can’t remember maybe he should be subjected to psychiatric evaluation since he has selective memory,” Foong proposed to the counsels present.

The panel head had brought it up when Hairul denied knowing that there were allegations of violence against Mohd Ashraf prior to the investigation on the misuse of state funds case.

The royal commission, which is investigating the fatal fall of political secretary Teoh Beng Hock two years ago, asked Hairul today if he had “other intentions” in appointing Mohd Ashraf to interview the deceased.

NONE Hairul admitted that he instructed for Mohd Ashraf ( right ) and another colleague, Arman Alies, to interview Teoh.

“I wanted all my officers to be involved in every operation,” he said.

It was previously noted that nine police reports had been lodged against Mohd Ashraf accusing him of abusing suspects and witnesses.

The inquiry had interrogated Mohd Ashraf and Arman over the past two weeks trying to establish if they had any part in Teoh’s death, after a coroner’s inquest came to an open verdict of inconclusive evidence to suggest homicide and ruled out suicide.

‘Be careful what you say’

Foong pressed Hairul, as a supervising officer, on whether he knew of any internal disciplinary probe on Mohd Ashraf.

“Disciplinary investigations are usually done by the headquarters,” said Hairul, adding that this information was “beyond his knowledge”.

As Hairul denied it, Foong warned him that the commission would instruct their private eye, Michael Leslie Squires, to check on the matter.

“Things are rather unusual... I hope the MACC is not an institution above the law,” he said.

But Hairul was steadfast in his reply that he “can’t recall in terms of specifics” so he “does not want to give false details”.

azlan “I didn’t know (about the complaints), only (got to know) much later after Teoh’s case, even I had to attend the identification parade,” he asserted.

He insisted that there were no police investigation on allegations of abuse by MACC officers although some complaints were dated back to 2006, when MACC was known as the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA).

Foong warned Hairul to be “careful” and added that the panel will be talking to “certain police officers” involved.

The commission told him that there were over 50 complaints made on MACC from all over the country and about 20 directed at the Selangor MACC.

“Did you know the most of the complaints were on which person?” asked Foong.

“No. Maybe me,” said Hairul, adding that he was unaware it was Mohd Ashraf who had the most damaging reports.

‘MACC did not cooperate with police’

The commission also revealed that the police had served notices under the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) asking the MACC for case documents relating to investigations of assault against Mohd Ashraf.

Hairul said that he asked one officer known as Khairul Anuar Alias to check with the Attorney-General’s (AG) Chambers whether they must supply the necessary document.

As he was informed that there was no need to provided the documents, he was “of the opinion there was no need to reply to that letter”.

Selventhiranathan then asked: “How would the police probe on complaints against MACC officers that force was used if MACC do not cooperate with police officers?”

Hairul only said: “If I’m not mistaken, we replied to the letter much later.”

After the inquiry resumed after lunch break, Foong said that Squires has been asked to take into possession mobile phones and computers of six MACC officers.

They were Hairul, Mohd Anuar Ismail, Mohd Nazri Ibrahim, Hishamuddin Hashim, Khairul Anuar Alias and Raymond Nion John Timban.

However, MACC lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah hoped that they would be careful when extracting information as “there were many other ongoing investigations concurrent with Ean Yong’s case”.

He asked for caution as it could “expose investigation information on other cases”.    

The inquiry resumes tomorrow with the same witness.