Civil society organisations today expressed shock over the news that another individual being investigated over alleged wrongdoing has died while in the custody of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

NONE In a statement, several civil society organisations demanded immediate investigations into the death of the assistant director of the Selangor Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Ahmad Sarbani Mohamed, 56, who died after falling off the third floor of the Federal Territory headquarters of the MACC.

Senior officers of the MACC, including its Selangor director and all other officers involved in the investigation of the money-laundering and graft case that led to Ahmad Sarbani’s arrest should be immediately suspended until a thorough probe into the death had been completed, they said.

“This incident has again raised questions on the integrity and accountability of the MACC. Public confidence in the credibility and professionalism of the MACC has been shattered!” said rights group Suaram, Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia and Malaysians For Beng Hock.

They demanded the setting up of a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to independently and thoroughly investigate the incident.

It should be tasked with looking into “the key role of the present command and power structure of MACC in this tragic incident”.

azlan “Half the members of the RCI should be nominated by civil society organisations to ensure credibility,” said the groups.

A RCI was constituted after a Selangor DAP aide, Teoh Beng Hock, was found dead following a night of interrogation by Selangor MACC officers in July 2009.

In the meantime, said the NGOs, the Kuala Lumpur MACC director and all other officers involved in the investigation of the money-laundering and graft case that led to Ahmad Sarbani’s arrest should be immediately suspended until the RCI probing the death has completed its work.

This is to ensure justice is served and there is no cover-up of evidence or any obstruction to the investigation process.

The recommendations of the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code should be immediately implemented to enact a Coroner’s Act and to establish a Coroner’s Court to investigate all cases of sudden deaths in custody.

“We are extremely saddened that the institutions of state that are supposed to protect and advance the public interest have apparently abandoned the principles of democratic governance.

“Not only have human freedom and dignity been degraded, lives have been unnecessarily lost."

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